Ocean Startup Project Announces Recipients of 2025 Ocean Challenge: Boost Funding
CANADA (March 21, 2025) – The Ocean Startup Project has announced the latest cohort of startups receiving support through the Ocean Challenge: Boost program. This initiative, initially launched in 2024, continues efforts to accelerate sustainable ocean technology in Canada. Eligibility for this exclusive follow-on funding was extended to alumni of the Ocean Startup Project’s Challenges and Lab2Market Oceans teams, reinforcing a commitment to long-term support for emerging ocean tech ventures.
This year, a total of $100,000 was distributed to 15 startups, each receiving up to $10,000 to help them achieve critical short-term milestones that will advance their technology and business development. The Ocean Challenge: Boost program plays a crucial role in fostering innovation, supporting transformative solutions, and promoting sustainability in the blue economy through cutting-edge technology.
"Ocean Challenge: Boost provides early-stage ocean startups with the crucial support needed to take their innovations to the next stage," said Paula Mendonça, Executive Director at the Ocean Startup Project. "By investing in these companies, we are strengthening the foundation for a thriving blue economy and supporting solutions that will have a lasting positive impact on our oceans."
Meet the 2025 Boost Recipients
These startups have demonstrated exceptional potential in tackling some of the most urgent challenges facing the oceans. The recipients of the 2025 Ocean Challenge: Boost funding are:
A2O Advanced Materials Inc. (BC) – Developing advanced materials to improve sustainability in marine industries.
Atlantic Echo Solutions (NL) – Developing acoustic methods to remotely measure sound speed profiles in the ocean.
Deepwater Robotics (ON) – Building a fleet of long-range and low-cost autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that will travel the ocean for months at a time to complete a variety of survey missions across the globe.
Devocean Inc. (QC) – Developing AI-driven solutions to optimize ocean data collection and analysis.
Hoola One Technologies (QC) – Engineering innovative solutions for ocean plastic cleanup.
Integrative Nanotech (NS) – Advancing next-generation nanotechnology for marine sensing applications.
Mabel Systems (NS) – Providing data-driven solutions to improve seafood supply chain efficiency.
Marine Critical Parts Supply (NL) – Addressing supply chain gaps for marine industries with critical component manufacturing.
Ocean AID (BC) – Empowering marine decision-making through real-time AI object detection, supporting sustainable oceans.
Ocean Riot (QC) – Delivering turnkey automated solutions for seafloor resource and biomass assessments using marine robotics and artificial intelligence.
OnDeck Fisheries AI (BC) – Utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance fisheries monitoring and sustainability.
PhyCo Technologies Inc. (BC/PE) – Developing seaweed-based bioplastics for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics.
qualiTEAS (NL) – Innovating AI-powered corrosion inspection and management for ocean industries.
Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc. (NS) – Deploying proprietary underwater acoustic speakers to mitigate noise pollution and protect marine life.
Seacork Studios (BC) – Developing biodegradable acoustic panels from local seaweed by rethinking our relationship to materials and their origins.
By awarding Ocean Challenge: Boost funding to these startups, support is being provided not only for their individual growth but also for the future of sustainable ocean innovation. Their work will have a lasting impact on the health of the oceans and the advancement of ocean-related industries.
This funding highlights the importance of entrepreneurship and technology in addressing critical ocean sustainability challenges. Through initiatives like the Ocean Challenge: Boost program, the next generation of ocean technology leaders continues to be fostered, contributing to a more sustainable future.
For more details about these groundbreaking startups and their projects, visit oceanstartupproject.ca/boost.
About the Ocean Startup Project
The Ocean Startup Project is advancing Canada as a global leader for ocean entrepreneurs, driving innovation across the ocean economy. Our mission is to transform Canada into a thriving hub for ocean startups, from inception to global market reach. Through partnerships with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and regional organizations like Genesis, Springboard Atlantic, PEI BioAlliance, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Technopole Maritime du Québec (TMQ), Invest Nova Scotia, and the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), we strengthen Canada’s ocean-focused innovation ecosystem. Recognized as one of the top 5 accelerators in North America and top 10 globally in the Blue Economy sector by Startup Genome, we’re accelerating the success of ocean startups, positioning Canada at the forefront of the global blue economy.