Nathalie Manzano

Founder of Miami Science Barge
Principal at GrayScale partners
Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Cohort 1

Reach out to Nathalie on LinkedIn

The Leader

Nathalie Manzano-Smith is a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional, and has over a decade of experience directing programs focused on public health and environmental sustainability in non-profit and government settings, including the City of Miami, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the National Hispanic Health Foundation. Recently, Nathalie joined the team at Grayscale Partners, a design consultancy engaged in technical analysis and project development in the areas of urban planning, sustainability, resiliency, long-term risk management, and global real estate. She graduated from Florida International University with a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration.

Recent Wins

Hired a team of over 20 staff
Raised over $1M in investments
Fully launched Miami Science Barge, leading to successful acquisition by Frost Museum of Science

The Bold Idea

A floating marine laboratory and education platform with three main areas of focus: marine ecology and conservation, sustainability, and alternative agriculture.

The organization

The Miami Science Barge was a floating marine laboratory and education platform made possible by the Knight Cities Challenge grant in 2015. The Barge, designed to help support a more sustainable city, had three main areas of focus: marine ecology and conservation, sustainability, and alternative agriculture. It was completely off-grid and off-pipe and provided approximately enough energy and food production to support an average American family. The Barge was acquired by the Frost Museum of Science and subsequently destroyed in Hurricane Irma. Still, its legacy lives on.