Kind Designs Secures $5M to Innovate Against Rising Seas with 3D Printed Seawalls
In a significant move that offers hope against the stark backdrop of environmental crises, venture capital firm GOVO Venture Partners is co-leading a $5 million seed investment in Kind Designs, a Miami-based climate-tech startup. With over 50% of the world’s coral reefs having diedin the last 30 years and up to 90% facing extinction in the next century, the urgency for solutions has never been greater. Teaming up with M4 Investing and the Florida Opportunity Fund, GOVO is making this its third portfolio investment since the launch of GOVO Fund I in January. They are backing Kind Designs’ mission to create its proprietary Living Seawalls that mimic natural coral reefs and mangroves, aiming to turn the tide against devastating sea-level rise and ecosystem decay.
Located in a warehouse district in southwest Miami-Dade County, Kind Designs uses cutting-edge technology manufactured by CyBe Construction, including an ABB industrial robotic arm, to 3D print seawalls designed to serve as artificial reefs.
Far from being mere barriers against rising sea levels, Kind Designs’ proprietary Living Seawalls serve as ecological pillars that host biodiversity and actively improve water quality. Far from being mere static barriers, these Living Seawalls are interactive installations, outfitted with water-quality sensors and built using recycled ocean plastic fibers, that actively contribute to ecological health.
Each Living Seawall becomes part of a global network collecting essential water data, transforming what has traditionally been a static defense into an intelligent, dynamic shield against environmental challenges. The technology not only offers superior protection for vulnerable coastlines, but it does so in a cost-effective and eco-friendly manner. Easier to get approved and more earth-friendly, these Living Seawalls are a step up from traditional options. They represent a win-win for human communities at risk of sea-level rise and the fragile marine ecosystems they border.
