GridZero Founder shares details of his APVG holding company and objectives.
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Founder/President/CEO Peter Ortmann shares more about GridZero's history and vision.
The AngelPreneur Venture Group (APVG)
Founder-led. Vision-driven. Impact-focused
Our Founder's privately-held AngelPreneur Venture Group (APVG), a Hawaiian corporation established to drive his planned west Maui retirement projects in 2019, is the sole shareholder of GridZero Inc. APVG's proposed prior Maui projects were put on hold during the Covid Pandemic, and in partnership with GridZero is now in the process to develop and operate some of the most ambitious business models and projects emerging today,
initially founded in 2006 by Peter “The AngelPreneur” Ortmann, 70, a semi-retired Angel Investor & Entrepreneur (hence "the AngelPreneur" tag), and known as The Shark—by close associates, a nickname that pays homage not only to his relentless entrepreneurial drive, but to the symbolic reef shark he plans to set free to swim among Marissa’s Reef for Heavenly Helpers—a saltwater aquarium memorial honoring Marissa, his late granddaughter. as explained further below. Grandpa Petey - the Shark will watch over Marissa & her SpiritFish helpers.
The Sharkr, a former resident of Lahaina who sailed out of the Lahaina Harbor in the 80's, and planned to retire there in early 2020. First it was Covid, then the August 2023 wildfire that delayed his plans. Words cannot fully describe the magnitude of the destruction caused by this disaster that completely burned the historic town of Lahaina in West Maui, down. The fast spreading wildfire claimed 100+ lives, over 2,200 homes and 300 businesses in less than 24 hours leaving 8,000 residents homeless, many without jobs after losing everything they owned.
To help rebuild the Lahaina business community, APVG will launch its proposed Lahaina Business Fund in early 2026. Although it will be difficult to replace the Lahaina we lost, our Fund is designed to help Maui entrepreneurs get their businesses back up and running through private investment that could exceed $100 million over five years..
West Maui Resilience Center: The Legacy "Dream" Project
APVG also plans to build and operate its West Maui Resilience Center (WMRC) development - a proposed USD $250 million project in West Maui explained further below. APVG will establish an office on Maui in early 2026 to begin these projects build address future disasters,
The Shark had sought to retire on
Maui for many years, and in 2017 he
started designing projects he wanted
to build and manage on Maui during
his elder years. It started with an Idea
for a solar powered Aerial transit
system called MagShark, redesigned
as Maui SkyPODS. SkyPODS were
integrated into a 500 acre Aquarium
Plaza Golf Resort & Spa model set
around the west Maui airport. In 2020
he added his Hybrid AngelPreneur
Business Park in central Maui.
Just before The Shark was ready to
share these projects with locals on Maui & County officials (see old project renderings). The Covid pandemic ended it all. In 2024 he designed the
West Maui Resilience Center - as the "Dream" project to build on Maui.
The Maui Aquarium Plaza
At the heart of APVG’s pay-it-forward mission is the creation of the Aquarium Plaza a landmark attraction designed to help increase awareness of the many ocean issues. Although originally designed as a stand-alone development and The Sharks' defining legacy project, it is now part of the West Maui Resilience Center (WMRC) campus proposed for Lahaina, in West Maui Hawaii. The Aquarium Plaza will feature and serve as:
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The corporate headquarters for APVG, the WMRC manager, and CBO Foundation on Maui.
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A working demonstration site for many of GridZero’s innovative systems, products and sustainable technologies that can provide food, water and energy security for any remote region or island..
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A unique visitor attraction designed to educate, inspire, and engage the public in ocean and tropical reef conservation and issue awareness.
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Marissa’s Reef for Heavenly Helpers – a 50-foot saltwater aquarium memorial exhibit
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Aquarium Gallery Restaurant – a themed dining experience with underwater views
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ReefShark Apparel & Accessories – retail outlet for branded eco-wear and merchandise
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Sunstar GolfClub – an immersive, virtual golf entertainment venue with food & beverage
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A sustainable food basement – complete with a micro-bakery, vertical micro-farm, and atmospheric water generation system (if built as a stand alone facility)
The rooftop will integrate a solar-powered canopy over a produce garden, a chicken coop, and atmospheric water generators. The parking lot will include solar car canopies and high-speed EV charging stations, and underground will feature a bakery and Hydrogen fueled power plant.
APVG, in partnership with GridZero will develop its projects, which APVG and our Founder will operate once completed. Including his Aquarium Plaza with Marissa's Reef For Heavenly Helpers aquarium exhibit. The project will also host AgriVoltaic Fruit & Veggie Farms, the Maui AirWater Company with its MauiCUBES, West Maui Yolks, the KaffeLUA Maui Coffee Company, and APVG's non-profit Clear Blue Oceans Foundation (CBO Foundation), which will operate its Tropical Reef Research and Conservation Center with fish breeding facility, manage Marissa's Reef and all onsite aquariums, plus its ReefShark Apparel & Accessories.
The AngelPreneur Web Series, Book & Podcast
The entire journey of building the West Maui Resilience Center development - the "Dream" project, along with its Aquarium Plaza—and the broader GridZero Venture Fund business launches — will be documented through our unscripted web series, The AngelPreneur: Building the Dream in Real Time. This series will follow the live real-time development of all GridZero companies, projects and CBO Foundation initiatives, showcasing
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The ups and downs of socially responsible entrepreneurship
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The formation and rollout of GridZero's five Venture Fund companies,
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West Maui Resilience Center & Aquarium Plaza
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Behind-the-scenes footage, strategy sessions, and stories
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The AngelPreneur Books & Podcast
The web series will also support the release of The Sharks' new upcoming book by the same name, which will offer a behind the scenes story of his over 50 projects with lots of images and renderings. His podcast relaunches later this fall.
The Sharks weekly podcast series relaunches later this fall with a goal to share the truth about the world we all live in. He will build a studio on Maui and will feature guests, locals, ocean experts and others in a two hour podcast to help promote Maui, his CBO Foundation and GridZero projects as sole sponsors.
How APVG Is Funded
To fund its web series, books, podcast and ongoing media content productions, APVG will receive a 15% share of the monthly ClubZERO Rewards membership fees through 2029. It’s a win-win model that supports our content creation efforts while delivering tangible benefits to the ClubZERO member community. Of all funds received, APVG will allocate 20% to fund its Lahaina Business Fund to help reestablish local Maui businesses and restart the Lahaina tourist-driven economy. Additional funding will come from internal operations, web series sponsorships and advertising.
Looking Ahead
We have a lot of work ahead, and 2025 will be a pivotal year. As we continue preparing for launching our GridZero Venture Fund companies, building and launching ClubZERO, and its membership site. We're updating all our project pages throughout May 2025. Stay connected. Watch us build. And join us on a mission to redefine what legacy entrepreneurship looks like,