Earthshot Prize Partners with Builders Vision to Unlock $900 Billion in Ocean Investment

Image: The Prince of Wales meets local fishermen in Kalk Bay Harbour to highlight the contributions of 2023 Earthshot Finalist Abalobi | Credit: Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

On Sunday, coinciding with World Oceans Day, Prince William will deliver what his team is billing as a “landmark speech” in Monaco. But this isn’t just another royal appearance. This is strategic. He’ll be speaking directly to a high-powered audience of environmental leaders, and, just as importantly, investors, with a singular message: the oceans need bold solutions and even bolder capital.

His appearance is tied to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, a curtain-raiser event for next week’s UN Oceans Conference in Nice. As founder of the Earthshot Prize, Prince William has made it his mission to uncover and accelerate solutions to climate challenges, and this gathering aligns perfectly with that agenda.

The backdrop? Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum is a gleaming steel-and-glass venue nestled in one of the wealthiest enclaves on Earth. Surrounded by superyachts, hedge fund managers, and the casual luxury of a tax haven, it’s a curious—but calculated—place to talk about planetary peril.

But that’s the point.

“This is where the money is,” one advisor noted. And money, frankly, is what’s needed. Rising ocean temperatures, rampant pollution, and collapsing fish stocks aren’t abstract issues. They’re destabilising trade, threatening food systems, and undermining efforts for sustainable energy. Addressing them isn’t charity. It’s smart, long-term economics.

Prince William will speak publicly at the forum alongside figures like President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Rodrigo Roblez of Costa Rica. But behind closed doors, he’ll also host private strategy sessions with scientists, financiers, and thought leaders, where the real deals get made.

This dual strategy, combining public inspiration with private capital, is becoming a signature of William’s approach. Less ceremonial, more results-driven. A modern royal, working to “harness capitalism for good.” His goal? To draw investment not just to shiny green startups but to the gritty, complex, and often overlooked work of ocean restoration.

It’s working.

The BBC recently revealed that CoralVita, a Bahamas-based ocean regeneration company and an Earthshot finalist, has secured £6 million ($8.1 million) in fresh funding. The lead backer? Builder's Vision is a philanthropic firm founded by Lukas Walton, the grandson of Walmart founders.

This isn't just good press. Its impact. The new investment will enable CoralVita to scale its reef restoration efforts globally, contributing to the reversal of biodiversity loss in critical marine zones.

The ripple effects extend beyond a single company. Builders Vision will now also back the Earthshot Prize, further embedding Prince William in a global network of capital, innovation, and environmental action.

Observers are calling it the “royal stardust” effect. But beneath the surface is a calculated and pragmatic shift in how Prince William wields influence. He’s not just spotlighting climate solutions, he’s matchmaking between science and capital, purpose and profit.

"He helps getting in front of people who would normally not think it was investible or that it mattered," says Mr Teicher.

"We need to expand out to bankers, government leaders, tech specialists. He gets more people around the table."

And ultimately, this is an event where money matters. For Mr Teicher, the target is always the correct type of investor.

"We aren't looking for people wanting a traditional five to seven-year return," he says. "This is a long-haul problem. We need people in it for the long haul."