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Ocean Innovation Leaders Convene to Advance U.S. Coastal and Blue Economy Solutions

VentureWell Launches Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Program

VentureWell, a global nonprofit dedicated to fostering innovation for lasting social impact, recently brought together fifteen bluetech startups from across the country along with other ocean innovation leaders in Rhode Island to kick off the first stage of the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator.

Supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), VentureWell is leading the charge in championing these innovators as they work on developing and commercializing technologies that will enhance economic development and resiliency on America’s coasts. The ultimate goal of the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program is to promote the adoption of new ocean data technologies and services for the benefit of the United States and its growing blue economy.

The initial three-day gathering, hosted at Cambridge Innovation Center Providence and the University of Rhode Island (URI) Bay Campus, marked the official commencement of the program’s first phase. Participants were immersed in learning about customer discovery, technology development pathways, market applications, and funding opportunities crucial for launching and scaling their businesses.

The event also shed light on Rhode Island’s thriving industry ecosystem and support network for bluetech startups. Participants had the chance to engage in deep conversations about their businesses, connect with seasoned mentors and instructors, and explore cutting-edge facilities that underscored the region’s status as a prominent national hub for ocean innovation.

Following the kick-off event, the participants are now embarking on three months of virtual workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and tailored support to craft their Product Readiness Roadmaps.

Over the next four years, the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program aims to assist up to 220 ventures through a structured, four-stage program conducted in various regions across the United States. The innovators will receive valuable insights into technology pathways, market applications, and funding options essential for the successful launch of their innovations.

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Throughout the program, the teams will benefit from dedicated guidance from experts in the blue economy, intensive training sessions, and opportunities to further refine their innovations. They will also have access to a potential four years of staged mentorship and over $140,000 in non-dilutive awards. Each startup participating in the initial stage will receive a $15,000 Technology Development and Commercialization (TDC) award to advance their innovations.

The inaugural cohort of Stage 1 of the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator includes:

  • Aloft Systems

  • Blue Mvmt, Inc.: AI-Powered, IoT Integration

  • Blue Sea Farms

  • CargoCheck

  • Coastal Measures

  • Diversican Corporation

  • Drift Marine Systems

  • FishLAT (Fisheries Location Assessment Technology)

  • Hydronet: Connected Underwater Intelligence

  • Lacuum: Innovating Water Cleanup

  • Mira Intel

  • Ocean Intelligence on Demand with Astraeus Ocean Systems

  • OctaPulse: AI Precision Aquaculture

  • Sea-Gal Technologies Inc.: Low-Cost Underwater Acoustic Imaging Systems for Biofouling Detection

  • Soarce

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