We’re making Canada the best place in the world for ocean innovation
We inspire, initiate & invest in Canada’s ocean founders – connecting them with resources, funding, training, & expert guidance to transform their early stage ideas into scalable, sustainable ocean solutions.
Our commitment to sustainable oceantech advancements is shaping a dynamic startup ecosystem that bridges local and international realms.
Here are just some of the ways you can become a catalyst for sustainable ocean innovation
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Lab2Market Oceans
Lab2Market Oceans is offered in two streams – a 3-day workshop and an 8-week Validate program. L2M Oceans allows researchers to test and evaluate the market potential of their innovations critically. This carefully curated experience is (8 weeks full-time) is complemented by funding, exercises, workshops, and mentorship from industry experts – all with exploration at its core.
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Ocean Idea Challenge
The Ocean Idea Challenge empowers you to kickstart your customer discovery journey, turning your ideas into sustainable ocean solutions. Compete for up to $7,000 in funding as you validate your market and demonstrate your innovation!
Participants will connect with leading experts and get a strong sense of product-market fit, helping them decide to pursue their idea or pivot.
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Ocean Startup Challenge
Take your ocean startup to the next level by unlocking resources, funding, expert guidance and incredible networking opportunities.
Participants receive rapid feedback from industry experts like our executives-in-residence to iterate on their solution and get to market more efficiently. They also receive in-kind support from program partners like technical support, co-working space and so much more.
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Ocean Challenge: Boost
Boost, a strategic initiative designed to propel the growth of our esteemed alumni. This exclusive program targets past victors and participants of the Ocean Startup Project, offering a unique opportunity for those actively navigating the journey of commercialization. By providing targeted follow-on funding, Ocean Challenge: Boost bridges gaps and accelerates progress toward critical milestones.
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CDL Oceans Stream
The Oceans Stream at CDL-Atlantic is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada – the forefront of Canada’s Ocean industry. This Stream brings together experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and leading scientists from around the world who are active in the ocean industry. CDL startups work with these mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of research.
Since the Ocean Startup Project was launched in 2020, we've expanded from a pan-Atlantic Project to a national one, and have:
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Supported 170+ startups & project teams
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Distributed ~$3.9-million in funds to support startup growth & development
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Created 375+ jobs directly & indirectly across the country
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Celebrated ~$19M raised by Challenge winners
The Ocean Startup Project works under three core pillars – inspire, initiate and invest; this guides our initiatives and ensures we are always filling in ecosystem gaps with founders’ needs top of mind.
Our approach is clear: with an ocean-centric vision, we help innovators seamlessly bridge the gap from concept to market, providing support that integrates perfectly with the broader innovation network of accelerators, incubators, and support entities.
Our mission extends beyond our borders, attracting international startups to Canadian shores to build their ocean ventures, while simultaneously propelling Canadian startups onto the global stage. This dual focus enriches Canada’s innovation landscape, transforming the ocean from just a frontier into a global hub for technological advancement.
Since our inception, we’ve championed over 184 teams, catalyzing job creation and allocating upwards of $3-million in funding to fuel the sector’s growth.
Recognized among the 2023 Global Top Ecosystem Players in the Blue Economy, our efforts underscore the significant progress we’ve achieved in just three-and-a-half years, elevating Canada’s profile in the ocean startup space.
Our targeted initiatives and events are meticulously crafted to boost startup growth, connect innovators with industry experts, and unlock access to global markets. By engaging in hundreds of events and forging nationwide partnerships, we’re not only strengthening Canada’s ocean economy but also asserting our leadership in the global Blue Economy.
Our work would not be possible without the support and direction from our incredible partners, spanning from coast to coast. They include: Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), Technopole Maritime Du Quebec (TMQ), New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Invest Nova Scotia, Creative Destruction Lab - Atlantic (CDL), Springboard Atlantic, Prince Edward Island BioAlliance, Genesis, as well as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
OSP’s ability to create impactful programs stems from the valuable connections we foster with ecosystem partners across the country. Through their generous in-kind support—such as co-working space, technical expertise, mentorship, and ocean-focused resources—our startups are able to thrive and grow.
The Ocean Startup Project is directed and supported by its partners and collaborators from coast to coast:
