Titouan Bernicot

Titouan Bernicot is the founder and CEO of Coral Gardeners, a groundbreaking reef restoration organization redefining ocean conservation through cutting-edge science, community engagement, and brand power.

Born and raised in French Polynesia, Titouan grew up immersed in the ocean—surfing, freediving, and witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of climate change on coral reefs. At just 16, a moment of shock at his local surf break sparked his mission to save the reefs. He saw bleached corals for the first time and realized that half of the world’s coral reefs were already gone—and that they could disappear entirely by 2050. By 18, he had launched Coral Gardeners with a volunteer crew of island friends and a crowdfunding campaign.

Eight years later, he has grown the organization into a team of over 80 members—including scientists, engineers, and gardeners—raised over €15 million in funding, and scaled Coral Gardeners into one of the world’s most recognized reef restoration movements.

To date, Coral Gardeners has planted hundreds of thousands of corals across more than two hectares and now operates high-impact sites in French Polynesia, Fiji, and Thailand—aiming to expand into every ocean across the globe. The team includes experts from leading research institutions working alongside their in-house CG Labs to apply science-backed, tech-enabled solutions to restore reef ecosystems at scale.

Titouan aims to blend grassroots passion with global influence. From working with major brands, luxury houses, and celebrities, he is turning Coral Gardeners into a lifestyle-driven environmental brand and proving that climate action can be cool, community-led, and financially viable.

His mission is bold: restore the world’s reefs, mobilize the next generation, and build a global brand where saving the planet is not just a cause but a movement. With Coral Gardeners they make science accessible and are inviting everyone to take action and be part of the solution.