Twenty-Five Early Stage Startups Selected for the 2024 Ocean Idea Challenge
July 17, 2024 | News, News Release
The Ocean Startup Project is thrilled to announce the 25 innovative startups selected to participate in the 2024 Ocean Idea Challenge. These startups will unlock up to $7,000 each to support early-stage customer discovery efforts as they reach the challenge’s milestones. The program also provides mentorship, networking opportunities, workshops, and more to help these ventures turn their ideas into viable solutions for sustainable ocean industries.
The 2024 Ocean Idea Challenge received 56 applications from across Canada, with notable increases in submissions from British Columbia and Quebec. Eight of the participants have also recently completed our Lab2Market Oceans programming (Validate or Discover), which demonstrates the success of our oceans-focused continuum of training and development for early-stage startups.
“The Ocean Idea Challenge is a testament to the incredible talent, innovative spirit and excitement within the ocean startup community. This program is nurturing the next wave of ocean startups, and the inspiring ideas we’ve seen speak volumes about the success of our continuum,” said Paula Mendonça, Executive Director at the Ocean Startup Project. “As the ecosystem becomes increasingly self-sustaining, it’s clear that the future of ocean innovation is bright. We’re excited to support these startups and their contributions to the global Blue Economy.”
The select startups represent a diverse range of solutions aimed at addressing critical ocean challenges. They include:
To participate in the program, teams were encouraged to submit their idea via an application, and then meet with Ocean Startup Project team members to discuss its feasibility. Finally, a panel of industry experts and leaders in business and ocean technologies reviewed the submissions and selected the program participants. These 25 teams will now embark on a customer discovery journey supported by the Ocean Startup team, and up to five final Challenge winners, who will be fast-tracked to the Ocean Startup Challenge, will be announced September 5, 2024.
For more information about the Ocean Idea Challenge, visit oceanstartupproject.ca/idea-challenge.
The 2024 Ocean Idea Challenge received 56 applications from across Canada, with notable increases in submissions from British Columbia and Quebec. Eight of the participants have also recently completed our Lab2Market Oceans programming (Validate or Discover), which demonstrates the success of our oceans-focused continuum of training and development for early-stage startups.
“The Ocean Idea Challenge is a testament to the incredible talent, innovative spirit and excitement within the ocean startup community. This program is nurturing the next wave of ocean startups, and the inspiring ideas we’ve seen speak volumes about the success of our continuum,” said Paula Mendonça, Executive Director at the Ocean Startup Project. “As the ecosystem becomes increasingly self-sustaining, it’s clear that the future of ocean innovation is bright. We’re excited to support these startups and their contributions to the global Blue Economy.”
The select startups represent a diverse range of solutions aimed at addressing critical ocean challenges. They include:
- Aeronovous (NL): Creating an iceberg detection system using drones to enhance maritime safety and environmental monitoring.
- Aethercom (QC): Tackling the issue of unreliable and expensive maritime communication in remote ocean areas by equipping marine operators with advanced antennas.
- Alberni Yachts Inc. (BC): Building a zero-emissions vessel for the adventure sailing market.
- Altair Robotics Solutions (QC): Developing a solution for the detection and recovery of ghost fishing gear.
- Atlantic BioCorp (NL): Turning fishery waste, such as crabs shells, into valuable raw materials.
- Bio-Stat-Green Consulting Inc. (ON): Pioneering environmental sustainability with innovative microalgae technology for air purification.
- Deepwater Robotics (ON): Building an affordable autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to assist with large-scale ocean exploration and monitoring.
- Experimental Fluid Mechanics (EFM) Platform (ON): Developing a software platform to increase the efficiency of experiments in fluid mechanics research.
- Fibr.Bio (BC): Pioneering sustainable performance fibers by transforming organic bio-waste into a high-performance spandex alternative through advanced bacterial fermentation
- FIMM (BC): Creating specialized coatings to deliver superior durability and antifouling protection for marine and industrial applications.
- FlowMotion (ON): Developing a resilient hydrokinetic turbine to harvest clean energy from tidal and river currents.
- FrequenSea (QC): Develop a solution for integrating near-real-time environmental data into navigation route optimization tools.
- GPFED Inc. (QC): Utilizing digital twin technologies based on artificial intelligence to enhance aquaculture production techniques, leading to low production costs and high-quality fish products.
- GPROSYS Corp. (ON): Designing a resilient battery with smart control as a cheap and reliable solution for ultracold weather applications.
- Miha Biotech (BC): Engineering a new type of bandage using seaweed that provides effective cooling treatment and painless removal for burns.
- Nabik Automations (ON): Developing underwater robotics solutions, designed to provide offshore marine vessel maintenance and inspection to avoid unnecessary dry docking.
- OceanAM (NB): Building a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) specializing in underwater maintenance using metal additive manufacturing concepts.
- Ocean Riot (QC): We deliver turnkey automated solutions for seafloor resource and biomass assessments using marine robotics and artificial intelligence.
- OEEE – Oil Spill Detection Using Empowered Earth Eyes (NL): Using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence for rapid detection of oil spills to mitigate environmental damage and protect marine ecosystems.
- Pinnacle Energy (NL): Addressing the critical energy challenges faced by remote and underserved communities, through the use of Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENG) to harvest ocean wave energy.
- ReEng (NL): Developing Hybrid Piezoelectric-Electromagnetic (Piezo-EM) Vibration Energy Harvesters (VEHs) to harness vibrational energy from natural sources, such as ocean waves and wind flow.
- Robonotic (QC): Develops an artificial predator to detect and control aquatic invasive species.
- Seacork Studio (BC): Developing biodegradable acoustic panels from local seaweed by rethinking our relationship to materials and their origin.
- Technologies de pêche Aquarius Inc. (QC): Develops a technology that hooks onto fishing nets and lifts them off the seabed to reduce impacts on ecosystems and increase profitability for fishermen.
- TRANQUILEAU (QC): Develops a retractable cofferdam solution for climate-resilient coastal communities| Développement d’une solution de batardeaux rétractables pour des communautés côtières résilientes face aux changements climatiques
To participate in the program, teams were encouraged to submit their idea via an application, and then meet with Ocean Startup Project team members to discuss its feasibility. Finally, a panel of industry experts and leaders in business and ocean technologies reviewed the submissions and selected the program participants. These 25 teams will now embark on a customer discovery journey supported by the Ocean Startup team, and up to five final Challenge winners, who will be fast-tracked to the Ocean Startup Challenge, will be announced September 5, 2024.
For more information about the Ocean Idea Challenge, visit oceanstartupproject.ca/idea-challenge.