Journey of an unlikely entrepreneur

The author, a retired fisheries oceanographer, shares his journey from being a scientist with no interest in industry to becoming an entrepreneur selling high-tech mapping products to fishers. He recounts his early days as a graduate student, his postdoctoral research, and his work as a government scientist in various countries. The author notes that he was fascinated by his colleagues who applied their skills to become science entrepreneurs, but he never thought he would take that path himself. However, after learning programming, remote sensing, and interacting with fishers, he developed an idea to create satellite remote sensing maps for recreational big game fishers. The author retired from NOAA Fisheries in 2018 and began working on his idea, which initially failed due to technical issues and a flawed business model. He eventually developed a robust working product, offering maps of sea surface temperature and other ocean variables to guide sport fishers. The author partnered with his wife, an accountant, to manage the finances and keep the business within reasonable bounds. The business, Fishing Maps, faced challenges such as established competition, seasonal fluctuations in subscriptions, and managing anxiety about revenue. However, the author notes that their product is distinguished by its detailed blogs and articles explaining oceanography for game fishing in plain language. The development process continues to evolve, with feedback from fishers leading to improvements. The author reflects on the challenges of balancing development hours with financial yields and the need to market the product effectively. Despite these challenges, he finds the science aspect of the business enjoyable and rewarding. The author concludes that having open data, open-source software, programming skills, and the will to try something audacious has made it possible for him to succeed as a digital entrepreneur.