# Ido Sella

> Dr. Ido Sella is a Jerusalem-born marine biologist, ecologist, inventor, and CEO who co-founded ECOncrete with the late Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel in 2012. Their patented approach changes concrete composition, texture, and three-dimensional design so ports, seawalls, cable protection, and coastal defenses can support local marine life while meeting engineering requirements. Now based in New York, Sella leads a company operating across more than 50 projects, 30-plus countries, and 10 seas, with a stated ambition to make nature-inclusive marine construction a standard practice.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder at ECOncrete
- **Organizations:** ECOncrete, Tel Aviv University, Unreasonable Impact
- **From:** Jerusalem, Israel
- **Nationality:** Israeli
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Zoology, Tel Aviv University, M.Sc. in Ecology and Environmental Quality, Tel Aviv University
- **Known for:** Co-invented patented bio-enhancing concrete technology for nature-inclusive marine infrastructure., Co-founded ECOncrete in 2012 and led its expansion to more than 50 projects across 30-plus countries and 10 seas, according to a 2026 company profile., Named with Shimrit Perkol-Finkel as a 2022 European Inventor Award finalist in the Non-EPO Countries category.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2012** — Worked in marine research and ecological consulting, including service as first mate on a major eastern Mediterranean research vessel and offshore ecological surveys.
- **2012** — Co-founded ECOncrete with Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel after research suggested small changes in concrete could alter marine colonization.
- **2012-2016** — Focused on experiments, monitoring, papers, and validation across the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and United States before broader commercialization.
- **2016** — Began commercializing ECOncrete technology more heavily in full-scale marine infrastructure.
- **2019** — ECOncrete was named to TIME's 100 Best Inventions of 2019.
- **2020** — ECOncrete won the Biomimicry Institute's Ray of Hope Prize.
- **2021** — After co-founder Shimrit Perkol-Finkel died in a traffic accident, Sella and the team continued the company and closed its Series A.
- **2022** — Sella and Perkol-Finkel were finalists in the European Inventor Award's Non-EPO Countries category.
- **2024** — Joined the Unreasonable Impact World Forum as an Unreasonable Fellow.
- **2026** — Led ECOncrete through a $14 million fundraise to expand work in coastal protection, ports, and offshore infrastructure.

## Achievements

- Co-invented patented bio-enhancing concrete technology for nature-inclusive marine infrastructure.
- Co-founded ECOncrete in 2012 and led its expansion to more than 50 projects across 30-plus countries and 10 seas, according to a 2026 company profile.
- Named with Shimrit Perkol-Finkel as a 2022 European Inventor Award finalist in the Non-EPO Countries category.
- ECOncrete was selected for TIME's 100 Best Inventions of 2019.
- ECOncrete won the Biomimicry Institute's $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize in 2020.
- Author or co-author of 25 papers and patents, according to ECOncrete's team biography.
- Participated in the design and delivery of nature-inclusive projects including Living Breakwaters at Tottenville, Staten Island, and Living Ports in Vigo, Spain.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — ECOncrete reported early biodiversity colonization on Coastalock units at the Port of Esbjerg after ten weeks of monitoring.
- **2026-05** — ECOncrete announced a $14 million fundraise led by Builders Vision, with backing from Barclays Climate Ventures, ReOcean Fund, BDT & MSD Partners through Oceans Catalyst, DCP, and a financing facility from Open Road Impact.
- **2026-03** — Sella appeared on the Unreasonable Stories podcast for an extended conversation about ECOncrete's discovery, growth, his outdoor life, and continuing the company after Shimrit Perkol-Finkel's death.
- **2025** — Construction on New York's Living Breakwaters project at Tottenville was completed, with early structures already showing oyster colonization, according to Sella's 2026 podcast account.

## Links

- Website: https://econcretetech.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ido-sella-00890724
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhUx2kJYLl4

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ido-sella
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-27