The Peel with Turner Novak The Ocean: Earth’s $2.5 Trillion Last Frontier | Will O’Brien, Co-founder of Ulysses
38 snips
Aug 29, 2025 
Will O’Brien, Co-founder and CEO of Ulysses, is passionate about ocean exploration and the economic potential of the sea, valued at $2.5 trillion. He discusses how Ulysses is developing modular, autonomous robots to help restore marine ecosystems. The conversation also dives into innovative ocean business models, including floating cities and treasure hunts, while highlighting the connection between conspiracy theories and entrepreneurship. O’Brien shares insights on navigating government contracts and the unique challenges of promoting ocean technology.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Proof‑Of‑Concept To Global Missions
- Ulysses has run missions across the US and Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef restoration and projects in Virginia and Florida.
- They now operate concurrent operations across two continents while scaling further.
Where Ocean Dollars Flow Today
- Major commercial ocean markets are submarine data infrastructure, energy (wind/oil/gas), mining, and defense.
- A single adaptable platform can address many of these by swapping sensors and manipulators.
Ocean: Unexplored Value And Discovery
- Vast parts of the ocean remain unexplored and may contain archaeological treasures, unknown species, biological compounds, and minerals.
- Better robotic tools will unlock scientific, cultural and economic value trapped underwater.