Independent (Dominik Härtl)

I am passionate about driving systemic solutions to environmental challenges by building bridges between technology, policy, and collaboration. My work focuses on scaling innovations that reduce pollution and restore ecosystems, combining my background in business development, stakeholder management, and early-stage venture growth. Currently, I work as a Senior Business Development Manager at The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit dedicated to ridding the world’s oceans of plastic. In this role, I lead negotiations with governments and private stakeholders, secure partnerships and funding agreements, and manage projects that deploy technologies to intercept plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean. For example, I’ve been involved in initiatives across the Americas, helping to structure long-term collaborations with cities and local organizations to maximize impact and drive operational efficiency. Alongside this, I work as a Business Developer at InnoFlex, a climate-tech startup developing photocatalytic solutions to break down industrial air pollutants such as PFAS, F-GHGs, and ammonia. I lead efforts across commercialization, fundraising, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy, helping position the company to bring nanotechnology-based solutions from lab to market. Working in two very different organizational contexts - a global non-profit and an early-stage hardware startup - has shaped my ability to adapt, navigate complex ecosystems, and design strategies that connect innovation with real-world implementation. Beyond my professional roles, I am a Global Shaper with the Global Shapers Amsterdam Hub, part of the World Economic Forum’s community of young leaders. In this role, I am contributing to community projects on climate, inclusion, and youth engagement. My mission is to accelerate the adoption of solutions that have measurable impact on the environment and our health currently by reducing plastic pollution and tackling industrial emissions. I am deeply motivated by opportunities where technology, collaboration, and systems thinking intersect, enabling us to solve challenges that no single actor can address alone. My vision is a future where technology and innovation are scaled responsibly and equitably, where ecosystems are restored, and where cross-sector partnerships become the norm rather than the exception.