Washington startup wins 205,000 at Flywheel Investment Conference

At the 2025 Flywheel Investment Conference, OoNee secured $205,000 in funding, winning a $155,000 investment from the Flywheel Angel Network and a $50,000 relocation award from NCW Tech Alliance. The conference, held from May 21-23 in Wenatchee, highlighted six finalists, including MarineSitu, which won the $5,000 fan favorite award. OoNee addresses the overpopulation of purple sea urchins threatening the Pacific Northwest's kelp forests by harvesting undernourished urchins and fattening them in land-based modular raceways. This innovative process transforms the urchins into premium seafood within weeks. MarineSitu develops AI-driven underwater monitoring technology that significantly enhances marine data processing accuracy and efficiency.

Dr. Sue Kane of NCW Tech Alliance emphasized the importance of OoNee's sustainable seafood approach for environmental health. The conference attracted a broad audience, fostering networking and investment opportunities among entrepreneurs and investors. Since 2018, the Flywheel Investment has distributed over $1. 7 million to early-stage startups in Washington.