Brochure

StratStore

“Turning blue economy innovation into investable growth”

1. The pull of the ocean

For as long as I can remember, the seas & oceans have had a hold on me. The waves, the wind, water that never sits still. It’s been a passion long before it was a profession; some things you’re just drawn to.

That pull is now StratStore’s focus. Not as a side interest, but as the core of the work: helping the people and organizations building a sustainable blue economy get the strategy, the story and the capital they need to actually scale. 

 

“The blue economy doesn’t need more good ideas. It needs strategies that hold up, ventures that scale, and capital that finds them – Taco Lens, Founder.”

2. Why this, why now?

The blue economy is one of the most urgent, underfunded opportunities of this decade. Marine renewable energy, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and low-carbon maritime transport all have the technology and the science. What’s often missing is the bridge: a strategy that holds up, a business case that’s genuinely investable, and the right capital at the right stage.

That bridge, between blue economy innovation and the funders who can scale it, is where StratStore works.

 

3. What we do? 

StratStore helps blue economy ventures, funders and institutions (banks, funds, investment managers) build strategies that scale, and capital that flows to where it’s needed most.

stratstore logo oceans

From identifying & developing the opportunity to scaling the impact and value creation:

A. Developing the blue economy ecosystem: Translating market trends and emerging innovations into partnerships and concrete growth and investment opportunities.

B. Making ventures investable: Turning strong ideas and early traction into business cases and funding propositions that hold up to due diligence and investor appetite.

C. Scaling impact and create value: Managing the process from proposition to closed investment, and supporting portfolio value creation once capital is in.

 

4. Sectors we focus on

  • Marine renewable energy (wave, tidal, offshore wind)
  • Sustainable fisheries & aquaculture
  • Maritime transport, shipping & ports
  • Coastal resilience & regeneration

5. Who we work with

  • Blue economy sector organizations building ecosystem and partnership strategy
  • Development banks building blue economy investment pipelines
  • Impact-driven funds & investment managers looking for a value creating investment strategy and impactful blue economy investment opportunities
  • Mission-driven family offices exploring blue economy allocations

6. How we work

We combine strategic scenario planning, porter analysis, value proposition and storytelling tools with the OGSM framework (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, Measures) to move from “this could work” to a plan that’s fundable and executable. Typical engagements include:

  • Translating sector trends and innovation shifts into concrete growth opportunities
  • Developing business cases into investment-ready propositions
  • Managing the capital-raising or partnership process 
  • Supporting portfolio companies and funds on strategy execution and value creation

7. Why StratStore

StratStore is built on a combination that’s genuinely rare: strategy consulting, business & product development, impact investing & development banking, and fund & portfolio management, across both developing and developed markets. 

That experience & knowledge comes from working with impact funds, (development) banks and consultancy companies across emerging markets, building strategies that stick, attract capital and make true impact!

 

Alongside the above the experience includes direct leadership of complex, multi-stakeholder, cross-border project and senior professional teams managing the kind of delivery that ocean ventures and ecosystem programs actually require.

 

That experience is pointed at one of the most urgent challenges of our time: to ensure strategies become action, ventures scale & make impact, and capital that flows to the innovations the blue economy needs.

 

8. Ways to work together

Example fractional / interim roles include:

  • Ecosystem & Market Creation Manager
  • Strategy & Business Development Manager
  • Investment Strategy, Fund & Portfolio Manager
  • Investor Relations & Fundraising Manager
  • Board Advisor
  • Investment Committee Member
  • Non-Executive Director

Project examples:

Project 1: Strategy formulation & implementation impact investment fund in emerging markets

  • Role: Strategy Implementation Lead / Program Manager & advisor to the Management and Supervisory Board
  • Where: Impact Investment organization in  Emerging Markets
  • Area: MFIs, Agri, Renewable Energy, debt, private equity, impact funds and ventures
  • What: Work together with MB and Management to develop revised long term strategy to enhance impact and value creation, 
  • Outcome: Long term strategy, roadmap of concrete strategic initiatives incl market propositions and project plans for first year initiatives.
 

Project 2: DFI corporate strategy formulation & implementation

  • Role: Senior strategy & board advisor (to the Management Board and Executive leadership team)
  • Where: Development Bank & Impact Investment organization in  Emerging Markets
  • Area: MFIs, Agri, Renewable Energy, debt, private equity, impact funds, blended finance and ventures
  • What: Work together with MB and Management to develop revised long term strategy with a more focused approach to reach goals and objectives, enhance impact and market creation, 
  • Outcome: Long term strategy, roadmap of concrete strategic initiatives, revised financial objectives and sustainability goals.

Project 3: Business Strategy & proposition enhancement of Agri, Food & Water investment team

  • Role: Senior strategy advisor to Management of sector investment team
  • Where: Development Bank & investment team in emerging markets
  • Area: Agri, Food & Water, debt finance
  • What: Work together with management/investment team to develop revised business strategy, proposition and business development with a more focused approach to reach goals and objectives and enhance impact  
  • Outcome: Business strategy (1-3 years) on a page (via OGSM framework) roadmap of concrete strategic initiatives, revised financial objectives and set-up of the team.

Project 4: Market creation strategy & proposition DFI in emerging markets

  • Role: Senior strategy advisor and proposition developer
  • Where: Development Bank in Emerging Markets
  • Area: Banks / MFIs, Agri, Food & Water and Renewable Energy. Debt, private equity, ventures, impact funds, blended finance
  • What: Develop innovative market creation approach together with management teams of sectors & products to create more investment dealflow to enhance impact and reach SDG goals
  • Outcome: Clear longer term strategy incl eco system development, roadmap of strategic initiatives and blueprint for organizational set-up

Project 5: Strategy & proposition development SME dealmaking Africa

  • Role: Proposition developer & advisor to the Board
  • Where: SME deal making organization in Africa
  • Area: Economic growth in Africa, SME’s and investors
  • What: Strategy & proposition development of a foundation which is active in deal making between SME’s & investors in Eastern Africa. Goal: Attract new investors.
  • Outcome: Clear pitch and strategic proposition towards board and investors to raise capital. Usage of OGSM framework to create a strategy on a page.

Project 6: Capital raise sustainable real estate fund

  • Role: Project Manager & advisor to the Board
  • Where: Impact Investment Fund
  • Area: Sustainable Real Estate, the Netherlands
  • What: Work together with sustainable real estate investment team and business developers to sharpen pitch to be able to attract capital from investors such as family offices and entrepreneurs. Preparation of required documentation e.g. market placement documents and prospectus.
  • Outcome: Clear project plan, commercial pitch, investor approach and capital raise goal reached.