Philanthropist Championing a Multi-Planetary Future
Guillermo Söhnlein is an explorer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist dedicated to space, oceans, and sustainability. He has founded over a dozen for-profit ventures and nonprofit organizations and led multiple ocean exploration expeditions with crewed submersibles. As an advisor, mentor, consultant, and speaker, he addresses topics related to the exploration and sustainable settlement of extreme environments on Earth, underwater, and in space.
Visionary Explorer and Entrepreneur
Guillermo Söhnlein is a distinguished serial entrepreneur, explorer, and philanthropist with over 25 years of experience in space, oceans, sustainability, and technology innovation. Known for his visionary thinking and groundbreaking work, Guillermo has made significant contributions to both ocean and space exploration.
Guillermo is internationally celebrated for his profound insights into the interconnectedness of Earth’s oceans and the vast expanse of space. His captivating keynote speeches not only highlight this fascinating relationship but also offer innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. Through a unique blend of entrepreneurial expertise and visionary thinking, he inspires audiences worldwide to imagine a future where the exploration of oceans and space converges, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for discovery and sustainable development.
"The future survival of humanity hinges on exploring and settling increasingly hostile environments on land, sea, and space."
Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Guillermo has launched nine for-profit ventures and four nonprofit organizations. He was the founder of the Space Angels Network, a global group of individual accredited investors focused on early-stage space ventures, and co-founder of OceanGate, which designed, built, and operated deep-sea crewed submersibles. His commitment to exploration is further evidenced by organizing and leading six ocean exploration expeditions using submersibles and being admitted as a member of The Explorers Club.
In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Guillermo is the co-founder of Humans2Venus Foundation, which envisions establishing a permanent human presence of 1,000+ people in the Venusian atmosphere by 2050. He also founded Blue Marble Exploration, organizing ocean exploration expeditions aimed at inspirational storytelling. Most recently, Guillermo co-founded Space Bridge Partners, a boutique advisory firm that connects private capital with exploration-, science-, and education-focused space missions.
His philanthropic efforts are channeled through the WayPaver Foundation, which supports projects in exploration, science, education, and sustainability to make humanity a multi-planet species.
Guillermo’s professional journey began in Silicon Valley, and he has since worked across the United States and internationally, including in the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Qatar, Spain, and Switzerland. A former officer in the United States Marine Corps, he earned his AB in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and his JD from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Guillermo Söhnlein’s life work is a testament to the spirit of exploration and innovation. He continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible, particularly in the realms of space and oceanic discovery. Whether navigating the depths of the ocean or reaching for the stars, Guillermo embodies a relentless pursuit of knowledge and advancement. His contributions have not only expanded our understanding of these frontiers but have also inspired a new generation of explorers and innovators to dream big and strive for the extraordinary.
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