Delft-based Reefy raises €350K to restore marine ecosystems and protect shorelines

Delft-based Reefy, a startup restoring marine habitats to boost biodiversity and protect shorelines from erosion and flooding, announced on Monday, November 14, that it has raised €350K from UNIIQ.

UNIIQ is a €28.8M investment fund that helps entrepreneurs in South Holland to bring their innovation to the market faster. It provides capital to entrepreneurs so they can carry out their ideas and cross the “riskiest” phase between an innovative idea and a potential business. The fund was established in 2016 by TU Delft, Erasmus MC, Leiden University, and the regional development company InnovationQuarter.

Capital utilisation

Reefy says it will use the funds to carry out the first pilot projects in the Netherlands and at a beach resort in Mexico. The Reefy team now has four people, and will grow to six to be able to carry out the pilots and continue to develop the product.

50% coral reefs disappeared in 30 years

Coral reefs are natural breakwaters that shield coasts from erosion and flooding. Before the wave hits the beach, a good coral reef may absorb up to 97 per cent of its energy. This coastal protection continues to decline due to the increased mortality and degradation of coral reefs brought on by climate change, increasing the danger of water damage to beaches and structures, particularly those close to the shore.

More than 25 per cent of all marine species are found on reefs, which make up less than 0.01 per cent of the ocean’s surface. According to a statement from Reefy, more than 50 per cent of coral reefs throughout the world have vanished in the past 30 years. That is a serious setback for both nature and the people who directly depend on the reef for their safety and livelihood.

Currently, destroying the local ecology with polluting concrete constructions is the only way to combat the rising flood danger. Although 3D-printed coral reefs have been used in the past, they are unable to break enough waves to fully protect the coast.

Reefy’s reefs grow with the sea

Founded in 2019 by Jaime Ascencio and Leon Haines, Reefy creates modular man-made reefs that serve as both wave breakers and habitats for the surrounding ecosystem. These reefs are constructed with 3x1x1 metre concrete pieces that are ecologically sustainable. By configuring and designing these blocks, Reefy creates coral reefs that attract diverse fauna. As this reef grows, not only will the breakwater’s capacity improve over time, but it will also be a permanent solution with the potential to expand in response to sea level rise.

Reefy says it is the first solution in the world to successfully combine dependable hydraulic engineering with environmental preservation.