Alex Schulze is the co-founder and CEO of 4ocean, a mission-driven company working to end the ocean plastic crisis. Born and raised on Marco Island, Florida, Alex grew up fishing, diving, and surfing—experiences that fuelled his passion for marine conservation. After earning a degree in entrepreneurship from Florida Atlantic University, he co-founded 4ocean in 2017 with friend Andrew Cooper following a surf trip to Bali, where they witnessed beaches covered in plastic waste.
4ocean funds ocean cleanups through the sale of products made from recovered marine debris. For every product sold, the company pledges to remove one pound of trash from the ocean—a commitment known as the “One Pound Promise.”
Since launching, Alex has helped 4ocean remove over 40 million pounds of plastic and waste from oceans and coastlines. The company has created hundreds of jobs globally, operating cleanup divisions in Florida, Bali, and Guatemala.
Through youth-focused programs, educational content, and global cleanups, 4ocean empowers young people to take action for a cleaner, more sustainable ocean.
Alex has been featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Social Entrepreneurship and was recognized with Surfer Magazine’s “Agent of Change” award for his innovative leadership.