Leading Icelandic Investor/Entrepreneur David Helgason Announces Transition Labs to Accelerate and Scale Global Climate Solutions

Transition Labs’ first partner will be Running Tide, a US-based oceans climate solutions platform entering the Icelandic market to leverage Iceland’s global climate leadership 

Icelandic entrepreneur David Helgason is proud to announce the launch of the climate initiative, Transition Labs. The announcement will take place at Iceland Innovation Week as part of the Ok, Bye! Conference.

Transition Labs is a climate initiative based in Iceland that partners with the highest impact climate projects from around the world to rapidly deploy their solutions and help them scale fast.

“Running Tide is a cutting-edge technology company that amplifies the ocean’s natural systems to sustainably remove carbon from the atmosphere, restore ocean health, and deliver direct benefits to coastal communities and ecosystems”

“Several of the solutions to the climate crisis already exist – but they need to be identified, invested in, and scaled up,” Founder and Chairman of Transition Labs David Helgason comments. “The scaling part is where Transition Labs comes in. Deploying and scaling real world solutions and technologies can have a long lead time, and we aim to cut down that lead time with our expertise, network, resources and plug-and-play approach to getting things started. To meet global climate goals, we have to act now. Every moment in speeding up the deployment of effective solutions counts.”

Helgason is also pleased to announce that US-based oceans solutions platform Running Tide is the first company to partner with Transition Labs.

“Running Tide is exactly the type of company we’re building Transition Labs for. It has a potential massive impact, is ready to be scaled, and can leverage so much of Iceland’s unique strengths,” Co-founder and CEO of Transition Labs Kjartan Olafsson comments. “Iceland is the only country in the world with 100% green and sustainable electricity production, but the country has so much else to offer. Running Tide is entering Iceland precisely because of our world-class talent pool in science and engineering, our deep maritime experience and excellence, and our government and public’s core commitment to support and enable global climate solutions.”

Running Tide is a cutting-edge technology company that amplifies the ocean’s natural systems to sustainably remove carbon from the atmosphere, restore ocean health, and deliver direct benefits to coastal communities and ecosystems. Iceland will be Running Tide’s first location outside of the US, marking the start of their global expansion.

“Running Tide is thrilled to partner with Transition Labs, and to announce our expansion into Iceland,” said Marty Odlin, Founder and CEO of Running Tide. “Our operations as a carbon-negative supply chain require clean energy sources, access to the deep ocean, established shipping infrastructure, and excellent local talent – particularly in the ocean science, advanced manufacturing, shipping and logistics, technology, and maritime expertise. Iceland delivers all that and so much more. We are deeply grateful for the support of our Icelandic partners, the Icelandic government, and the Icelandic people in developing, deploying, and scaling solutions that will combat climate change  and improve lives, both here in Iceland and around the world.”

After co-founding Unity Technologies in 2003, David was Unity’s CEO until 2014 and is now on its Board of Directors. With his background in the gaming industry, Davíd took interest in ‘’green gaming,” before stretching that interest into mitigating and adapting to climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. He sees himself as a technologist, i.e. curious about technology in general, interested in connecting people and technology, with emphasis on sustainability and decarbonising the world.

The Ok, Bye! Conference will draw artists, entrepreneurs, and major international climate investors to collaborate on building and scaling solutions to the climate crisis . The conference will highlight local entrepreneurs working to solve this global crisis, and provide a platform for the myriad opportunities and benefits for Iceland’s climate leadership at home and around the world. Entrepreneurs and companies will  present the creative, cutting-edge solutions that they are pioneering and deploying. They will also engage attendees and the public directly in building a better future.

About Transition Labs:
Transition Labs is built to accelerate the world’s transition to a climate positive future. The team at Transition Labs is made up of entrepreneurs and doers that are passionate about climate issues and share the vision of pulling the future into the present. Transition Labs partners with the highest impact climate projects from around the world and helps them to rapidly deploy and scale in Iceland.

About Running Tide:
Founded by Marty Odlin, a 4th generation commercial fisherman, Running Tide designs, builds, and deploys systems and technology that amplify the natural power of the ocean to durably remove carbon, reverse ocean acidification, and restore coastal ecosystems. Running Tide partners with leading carbon removal purchasers such as Stripe and Shopify, as well as world-class climate and ocean scientific organisations including The Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, Ocean Visions, and the Roux Institute at Northeastern University.