Jacob Ruytenbeek is the Founder and CEO of SailPlan. He is an expert in ocean and decarbonization technologies with more than a decade of experience across multiple domains including space, aviation, and maritime.

In the early 2000s, Jacob began building boats with his father, a marine electrician, and together, they electrified some of the first small craft in south Florida. As a passionate freediver, Jacob noticed the effects of ocean-plastic pollution, coral-bleaching, and depleted fish populations firsthand. Through SailPlan, he is leading the charge to create a cleaner, more efficient marine industry by democratizing marine data.

Jacob has served as an advisor for maritime innovation to the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority. He established Founding Blue, a monthly event series that provides networking, mentoring, and investment opportunities for blue-economy startups across South Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean. And he dedicates time each month to coaching founders on venture fundraising through the Levan Center for Innovation at Nova Southeastern University.

Jacob graduated from Florida State University (BS), Nova Southeastern University (JD), and Pepperdine University (MBA). Today he lives in the Fort Lauderdale area with his wife, Brooke, and two children, Ben and Zach.

Greg McNeal is Chairman of SailPlan’s Board of Directors.  He is an entrepreneur, professor, and investor. The companies he founded or serves on the board of have raised over $100 million in funding. 

He is a tenured Professor of Law and Public Policy at Pepperdine University and a faculty member with the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law and teaches courses in technology, law and policy.

Greg has worked with the White House, the Department of Defense, the State Department, and independent regulatory agencies on matters related to technology, law and policy. He has on multiple occasions testified before Congress and state legislatures about entrepreneurship and emerging technology and has aided state legislators, cities, municipalities, and executive branch officials in drafting legislation and ordinances related to technological advances and has been appointed by Cabinet officials to serve on Federal Rulemaking Committees.

He previously co-founded and sold  AirMap, a multinational aerospace and defense company honored as an Inc.com 25 Most Disruptive Company, a Los Angeles Business Journal Innovation Award Winner,  and a Consumer Electronics Show “Innovation Award” recipient.

In his early career he worked on national security, international criminal law and counterterrorism matters and served as an Army officer