We hear about ocean health all of the time—rising sea levels, microplastics, pollution and debris—but what does cleaning the ocean actually involve? Ocean AID, supported by the Ocean Startup Project, is leading the way in turning these big ideas into real action, by tackling one of the ocean's most stubborn and costly problems: removing ghost gear. 

The Ocean Startup Project is proud to announce the 16 innovative companies selected as part of the 2024 Ocean Startup Challenge cohort. Each startup will receive up to $25,000 in non-dilutive funding, as well as a comprehensive support package to accelerate the growth of their ocean-focused solutions.

This year, the Ocean Startup Challenge attracted 56 applications from across Canada, with many emerging companies submitting their first application to break into the ocean startup scene.

The chosen startups span various sectors of the blue economy, including sustainable seafood, renewable ocean energy, autonomous vessels, and marine biotechnology. Notably, there was a surge in seaweed-related innovations, which reflects the growing interest in sustainable ocean solutions and the diverse opportunities within the blue economy.

(Montreal) Today, at the second annual Oceanfest event at Startup Fest, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) alongside project partners announced Phase 3 of the Ocean Startup Project. With a total project value of $8,020,000, the OSC is providing $5 million in funding, with $2.0 million in funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), $450 thousand from Mitacs and the balance coming from industry partners.

In 2020, the OSC announced its first innovation ecosystem project called the Ocean Startup Project, bringing together regional incubators and accelerators across Atlantic Canada to work together collectively for the first time to inspire, initiate, and invest in new and early-stage ocean companies. Now pan-Canadian in focus, the Ocean Startup Project has helped more than 155 new ocean ventures become established and just four years after being announced, was named a top accelerator in North America by Startup Genome’s global report on the strongest startup ecosystems in the blue economy for 2023.

We are looking for experienced entrepreneurs excited about supporting and accelerating early-stage ocean tech startups as Executive in Residence (EIR) of our Ocean Startup Challenge.

Are you ready to make waves in ocean sustainability and innovation? We’re excited to announce that applications for the Ocean Idea Challenge are now open until the end of day on June 9! This is your chance to explore groundbreaking ideas, undergo a transformative customer discovery journey, and potentially secure funding to bring your vision to life.

The Ocean Startup Project is delighted to announce Dr. Paula Mendonça as its new Executive Director. Dr. Mendonça’s appointment marks a significant stride towards fostering innovative, sustainable solutions and building a robust ocean startup ecosystem in Canada, while advancing the country’s role in the global Blue Economy.

The Ocean Startup Project proudly welcomes the 19 groundbreaking teams selected for the fourth cohort of its Lab2Market Oceans program, which kicks off today.

The seven-week program, hosted by Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, is poised to cultivate an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset among postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and faculty, propelling teams to reimagine their ocean research concepts and uncover potential commercialization opportunities.

The Global Startup Ecosystem Report Climatetech Edition is now live and the Ocean Startup Project is listed among the Global Top Ecosystem Players in the #BlueEconomy! Launched at @COP28UAEOffical in Dubai, this data-driven report by @Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, together with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, Cleantech Group, La Zone Bleue, and Mississippi Development Authority presents expert insights into startup activity in Cleantech and the Blue Economy and provides key knowledge for entrepreneurs, support organizations, and policymakers.