The Ocean Startup Project, a national organization making Canada one of the best places in the world to start and grow an ocean venture, has selected 60 idea and early stage ocean technology startups for the shortlist of the Ocean Startup Challenge, with up to $750,000 being distributed to the winners. Additional program benefits include valuable business support such as mentorship, networking opportunities, events, expert-led workshops, and so much more. 

“It is invigorating and exciting to review such cutting-edge ideas from new, early stage ocean technology startups. The potential for these ventures to make a significant impact on the health of the oceans is enormous,” said Don Grant, Executive Director at the Ocean Startup Project. “With the proliferation of new ocean ideas being generated across Canada annually, we are realizing on our goal to be leaders in the Blue Economy internationally.”

The Challenge received 90 applications from across the country, with a significant increase in British Columbia applicants –up 233% – and in Quebec – up 160% compared to the 2021 intake. Most notably, almost all of the applicants are new to Canada’s ocean startup ecosystem.  

Shortlisted startups include: 

• 7 Leagues Leather Ltd. – Eco luxury wholesale fish leather textiles for B2B and vertically integrated custom-made fish leather goods – all upcycled from food processing waste (Vancouver, BC)

• AbbaTek Group Inc. – AI web platform to streamline, standardise and de-skill microplastics analysis and reporting (St. John’s, NL) 

• Akwekon Enterprises – A fast, stable and a long range smart electric fishing vessel (Halifax, NS) 

• Alberni Yachts Inc. – An exciting new yacht brand offering zero-emissions, aluminium exploration sailing yachts (Port Alberni, BC) 

• AquaIMX Inc. – A novel biologic solution for enhancing fish immunity (Charlottetown, PE)

• Arkeea Inc. – AI integrated predictive technology-an alternative for in-situ sampling for harmful algal blooms (California, US)

• Azolla Technologies – Oil derived from Azolla fern – an alternative to palm oil (Toronto, ON)

• Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds Ltd. – A remote real-time environmental and structural farm monitoring system (Surrey, BC)

• Clean Catch Inc. – A biodegradable electric autonomous target vessel for navy (Halifax, NS)

• Clean Green Oil Inc. – Innovative technology for minimising oil spill damage (Toronto, ON)

• Coastal Carbon – Stopping climate change while restoring earth’s largest ecosystem: An IOT enabled remote sensing data platform for quantifying offsets from blue carbon projects (Calgary, AB)

• Composite Mats Canada Inc. – A modular runway system for remote and northern communities made from recyclable materials (St. John’s, NL)

• CuredCarbon – Corrosion resistant graphene-enhanced coating for marine infrastructure (Cambridge, ON)

• Cuttlefish Robotics – An efficient and silent underwater ROV (Listowel, ON)

• Dasivedo Design Ltd. – A novel wind assist technology for ships (Surrey, BC)

• DevActif – Software designed for fishermen security (Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu, QC)

• Envisioning Labs Inc. – Underwater laser technology for depth sounding, as a means of protecting whale and dolphin populations (Vancouver, BC)

• eVinci Technologies Inc. – An automatic integrated technology for shiploader spout (Burnaby, BC)

• Gamotech Inc. – Electric mobile powered solutions for marine infrastructure maintenance (Montreal, QC)

• GeoHazard Integrity AI Inc. – AI integrated geohazard analysis platform to lower development costs for marine energy projects (Antigonish, NS)

• Glorope Canada Inc. – 30-inch glowing ring for improving human safety (Dalhousie, NB) 

• Greenline Marine Inc. – A data-driven, sustainable passenger-only ferry system for British Columbia (Victoria, BC)

• GreenSage Prebiotics Inc. – Prebiotics from coconut residue for aquaculture and humans – a potential alternative to antibiotics (Halifax, NS)

• HoldFastNL Seaweed Farm Inc. – A seaweed aquaculture pilot project for research and development (St. Mary’s, NL)

• Hoola One Technologies – two technologies developed to eliminate plastic pollution in beaches and in grey water rejects from ships (Québec, QC)

• Hydro Powerplus International Inc. – Adjustable weir solution (AWS) for optimising hydroelectric power generation in hydro dams (Toronto, ON)

• Hypérion ML Inc. – Autonomous bioreactor using microalgae for urban carbon sink purposes (Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, QC)

• IntegraSEE Research Inc. – Like a canary in a coal mine, biomonitoring using mussel behaviour to detect hazardous waterborne issues that can harm marine life (Dartmouth, NS)

• Integrative Nanotech Ltd. – A novel EI spectroscopy based sensor with efficient ocean sensing capabilities (Halifax, NS)

• Intel Vision Technologies Inc. – An intelligent ROV for underwater welding operations (Vancouver, BC) 

• OPAS Mobile (Mavin Industrial Limited) – An intelligent operations management platform that improves safety, compliance and efficiency in the offshore industry (St. John’s, NL)

• MF2S Industries – Double threshold weakling to reduce whales entanglement (Grande Rivière, QC)

• nditive3D – Real time hazardous gas monitoring technology for marine operations (St. John’s, NL)

• Nereus Therapeutics – A novel low-dose antibiotic formulation to improve environmental sustainability in the aquaculture industry (Toronto, ON)

• Ocean Harvest – A data drive technology for identifying optimal fishing grounds (Moncton, NB)

• Ocean Sights Technologies – AI integrated technology for efficient harvestation of snow crabs and lobsters (Dartmouth, NS)

• Oceanic Impact Inc., operating as Marine Way – A digit platform for the supply chain management of marine debris (Milton, ON)

• OnDeck Fisheries AI Inc. – OnDeck makes fisheries monitoring scalable with artificial intelligence: drastically reducing compliance costs for fishers while enabling better insight for fisheries management and conservation (Vancouver, BC)

• Overflow Ocean – An algae based food supplement for livestock (Montreal, QC)

• PhyCo – A natural bio-based plastic derived from seaweed (Vancouver, BC / Charlottetown, PE)

• PLAEX Building Systems Inc. – Innovative and sustainable building materials using plastic from oceans (Hampstead, NB)

• Planette Inc. – An intelligent, data-driven maritime climate risk assessment platform (Victoria, BC)

• Polyamyna Nanotech Inc. – Advanced microbicidal technologies for aquaculture biosecurity (St. John’s, NL)

• Power HV – A novel monitoring technology for detecting power quality and integrity of subsea cables (St John’s, NL / Reston, MB)

• Precision Pathways – ML driven intelligent decision support tool for ship operations in ice (St. John’s, NL)

• Recircle Waste Management Solutions Inc. – Recycling ocean plastic, ghost gear, and residential plastic waste where it’s consumed; without a truck, transfer station or landfill (Antigonish, NS) 

• Remote Energy Systems Inc. – Renewable energy company design company creating a high-quality foldable solar panel for sailboats (Halifax & Liverpool, NS)

• SAFE HARBOUR Research & Technologies Corp. – An innovative technology for monitoring safety of boats (Halifax, NS)

• Salt Legacy – An innovative waste collection and utilization process (Victoria, BC)

• Salus Automated Technologies Inc. – Self-launched drone monitoring system for tracking ocean infrastructure (Halifax, NS)

• Scient Analytics Inc. – An imaging platform for non-destructive analysis of ocean infrastructure (New Glasgow, NS)

• Seathru Technologies Inc. – A digital twin remote monitoring system for marine vessels (Holyrood, NL)

• Setu Technologies Inc. – Fiber reinforcement from ocean plastic waste for building infrastructure (Victoria, BC)

• Sma’knis Maritime Safety and Security – Self-powered autonomous electric boat (Dartmouth, NS)

• Swordfish Energy Corporation – Underwater turbine to harness clean energy from oceans (Vancouver, BC)

• The Ocean Opportunity Lab (TOOL) – The first global interactive map & community platform for connecting innovators and resources in ocean industries (Oslo, Norway)

• Ultimate Lobster Bait Inc. – A biochemical attractant for use as bait for American Lobster (Souris, PE)

• Viridis Research Inc. – A novel technology to eliminate microplastics in water (Vancouver, BC)

• Wade Consumer Goods Corporation – Compostable materials made from seaweed (Montreal, QC)

• Wakkii LifeSciences – Natural wound care product developed from seafood waste (Ottawa, ON)

Shortlist applicants will now participate in the interview portion of the intake process, and the winners will be announced November 1. For more information about the program, visit oceanstartupproject.ca/challenge.