Article by Allie Dalola, intern with the U.S. Department of State, currently studying Business Administration and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill.
[Malta, May 2023] Through her innovative startup, Blue EcoTech, Dr. Alexia Massa-Gallucci is creating value from marine waste, advocating for ocean conservation, and educating her community in the small island nation of Malta.
A former researcher and professor, Massa-Gallucci said she felt like a “fish out of water” when she first launched her company. However, after joining the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) — a women’s empowerment initiative launched by the U.S. Department of State in 2019 — Dr. Massa-Gallucci was equipped with the entrepreneurial knowledge she needed to realize her lifelong dream of finding an innovative way to conserve and protect the marine environment.
Dr. Massa-Gallucci was born in Naples, Italy and spent her summers vacationing on the small island of Ischia — just an hour away by ferry. She said it was during the sunny, carefree days of her youth that her passion for marine biology was born.
“When I was eight years old, my father got me my first mask and snorkel as a gift,” Dr. Massa-Gallucci said. “Since that moment, I have never taken my head out of the water.”
Massa-Gallucci has developed a lifelong passion for marine biology and conservation.
Years later, her interest led her to pursue her master's degree in Marine Biology from the University of Naples and a Ph.D. in Conservation and Fish Biology from University College Dublin. Upon graduating, she conducted research on local fisheries and ocean conservation and lectured at various universities across the Mediterranean, eventually settling down in Malta.
Throughout her time in academia, Massa-Gallucci said she was able to investigate the intricacies of ocean life. Time and time again, she said she was faced with the devastation to marine ecosystems caused by humans — she knew something had to change. Massa-Gallucci decided to use what she had learned to launch a business that would make a positive impact on marine health.
“The idea behind Blue EcoTech was to use my scientific background in marine biology and fishery science to bridge the gap between academia and industry,” Massa-Gallucci said.
Blue EcoTech’s mission is threefold: creating value-added products, expanding conservation efforts, and educating communities about the threats to marine environments.
Blue EcoTech focuses on repurposing marine biomass, which includes fish waste and washed-up seagrass. Currently, the company is exploring methodologies to isolate and extract the usable compounds within marine waste. Though their products are not for sale yet, Blue EcoTech has already developed the technology to transform the waste into components used in textiles, 3D printing materials, and pharmaceuticals.
Besides helping to upcycle marine waste, Blue EcoTech is also finding other ways to improve marine conservation in the Mediterranean region. Recently, Massa-Gallucci and her team have conducted research into underwater reforestation: the restoration of areas of seagrass that have been destroyed by human activities like anchoring boats or fishing. The large quantities of seagrass in the Mediterranean are critical for producing oxygen, fighting climate change, protecting against coastline erosion, and supporting diverse underwater ecosystems.
“Blue EcoTech is also committed to raising awareness about the importance of marine habitats,” Massa-Gallucci said. “Even though Malta is surrounded by the sea, many people don't know the importance of what they see.”
Blue EcoTech hosts multiple events throughout the year to bring the community and researchers together to discuss the importance of marine environments and how to best care for them.
Before she took the plunge and left academia to start a new business, Massa-Gallucci said there was a “steep learning curve” she had to surmount, but participating in the AWE program in 2022 gave her the knowledge she needed to set herself up for success.
“Coming from an academic background, I realized I needed training as an entrepreneur,” Massa-Gallucci said. “AWE provided that training and gave me access to a network of other women entrepreneurs who were in the same boat as I am.”
As a part of AWE, Massa-Gallucci was also given access to DreamBuilder, a learning platform developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. She said that DreamBuilder proved to be an invaluable resource for understanding the practical steps that needed to be taken to get any new business off the ground.
“DreamBuilder broke business planning down into bite-sized pieces of information,” Massa-Gallucci said. “It not only gave me a general sense of what a business plan was, but also helped me to practically create one.”
As a part of the AWE program, Massa-Gallucci had the opportunity to pitch her business to a panel of judges. Out of the 42 participating businesses, Blue EcoTech was the runner-up for Best Overall Pitch, winning $5,000 in seed funding.
Now equipped with funding, knowledge, and a powerful network, Massa-Gallucci said she is excited for Blue EcoTech to bring their products to the market in the coming years and to launch an underwater reforestation program in collaboration with the University of Malta.
“If you have a dream or an idea for a business, try to make it real — it’s a thrilling experience,” Dr. Massa-Gallucci. “Resources like AWE help make your dream a reality.”
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs equips enterprising women with the skills they need to launch and scale successful businesses. In partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, AWE has empowered more than 25,000 women in 100 countries with knowledge and networks. Since the U.S. Mission to Malta launched the program in 2021, AWE has helped empower more than 60 women in the Maltese archipelago.
For more information about AWE, visit: https://eca.state.gov/awe.
