Layasree Vemmata Gopi (UG’28) Wins Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2025 for Startup Idea- ‘Cool Equity’

On May 14th, Layasree Vemmata Gopi (UG’28) won the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2025 under the ‘Business Concepts’ category for her startup idea — Cool Equity, which helps fishermen preserve seafood waste using a decentralised cooling system. She was the youngest participant in the challenge. 

The Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge— is an annual competition held in Monaco and supported by organizations like the International University of Monaco. It awarded the venture mentorship and a €4,000 grant to support its mission of protecting marine ecology through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Cool Equity — named to reflect its commitment to social justice and environmental equity —   uses Phase Change Materials (PCM) based cold blocks, which are frozen in a dedicated freezing facility and then distributed in a circular model. 

“Fishermen take the blocks to sea, use them, and return them as soon as they’re back on land. They can immediately rent new blocks or come back the next day — whatever suits their schedule,” Gopi told The Edict. 

Gopi developed a strong interest in ecology and environmental conservation during high school, participating in research programs such as the Lake Symposium at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. She cites her time at The Island School in The Bahamas, where she studied courses on marine ecology and sustainable development, as the key inspiration for her startup. 

She credits Professor Divya Karnad from the Environmental Science Department for helping refine her ideas, offering mentorship, and encouraging her to enter the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge. Gopi emphasised the importance of being strategic when choosing mentors. “If your idea is rooted in research, I’d strongly advise keeping your advisors grounded in that world, the entrepreneurial side can be figured out along the way.” 

Using the funds she received, Gopi is spending the summer developing a prototype of her cooling system and conducting a pilot study in Chennai. The study is being carried out in collaboration with InSeason Fish, an initiative co-founded by Professor Karnad that works to protect India’s marine biodiversity and promote responsible seafood consumption. 

In the future, Gopi hopes to raise funds and scale Cool Equity into a global solution, promoting sustainable fishing practices and empowering fishermen around the world. 

[Edited by Sahana Radhakrishnan and Giya Sood]