Guillermo Söhnlein

Guillermo Söhnlein, born on May 18, 1966, is an Argentine-American entrepreneur and businessman known for his significant contributions to both ocean exploration and space commercialization. He co-founded the deep-sea exploration company OceanGate in 2009 but left the company in 2013 while retaining a minority stake. His career spans various technology ventures, including co-founding Milo, a speech recognition technology firm, in 1998, which was acquired by Voxeo in 2001.1

Professional Achievements

OceanGate and Blue Marble Exploration:
Söhnlein's notable achievements include co-founding OceanGate, which specializes in crewed submersibles for deep-sea exploration. After his departure from OceanGate, he established Blue Marble Exploration, focusing on high-profile ocean expeditions.13

Space Ventures:
In the realm of space commercialization, Söhnlein founded the International Association of Space Entrepreneurs (IASE) in 2003 to foster aerospace-related ventures. He also initiated the Space Angels Network in 2006 to support early-stage aerospace investments.1

Humans2Venus Foundation

In January 2020, Söhnlein co-founded the Humans2Venus Foundation with entrepreneur Khalid Al-Ali. This initiative aims to establish a floating colony in the atmosphere of Venus by 2050, targeting a population of around 1,000 people. Söhnlein advocates for exploring Venus as a viable option for human habitation due to its potential for 1G gravity conditions at high altitudes, which could support human life more effectively than Mars or the Moon.145

Vision and Goals

Söhnlein's vision includes creating a multi-planet species by advocating for exploration and technological development related to Venus alongside other celestial bodies. He emphasizes that humanity should not limit itself to just Mars and should explore all possibilities for off-world habitation.23

Guillermo Söhnlein continues to be an influential figure in both oceanic and extraterrestrial exploration, leveraging his extensive experience to push the boundaries of human presence beyond Earth.