The Koiniva story
Koiniva connects volunteers with aquariums and marine conservation organizations, so people who want to help can find meaningful ways to show up.
Koiniva is not a nonprofit. (yet)Start here
Koiniva is a platform, not a nonprofit (yet). We make it easier for volunteers to discover opportunities and for aquariums and marine conservation organizations to share ways people can contribute.
Our work is about connection: helping the right people find the right place, at the right time, with enough context to take a thoughtful first step.
Volunteers with practical opportunities to help.
Aquariums with people ready to learn and contribute.
Marine conservation organizations with a clearer way to be found.
Why we began
We started with a question we could not shake: what if caring about the ocean came with a clearer way to help? We kept thinking about the distance between someone who wants to contribute and the aquarium or conservation organization that needs people to find them.
We built Koiniva because we believe that distance can be smaller. We are still learning, still listening, and still shaping the project around what we hear. Our story is not about having everything figured out; it is about choosing to begin, together.
We are building a bridge between intention and action.
A short history
Each year gave us a better question to ask, and a more honest reason to keep building.
We began brainstorming together during the summer. When seventh grade started, we gave the idea its first real shape as Nikolas began developing the earliest version of the project.
We presented the project at school and conducted market research. Ian contacted hundreds of aquariums so we could ask for feedback and better understand what they needed.
We shared our research with the school community. As we clarified what the project was becoming, we rebranded Save the Waves to Koiniva.
The people behind it
