startBlue

Closing the Gap from Idea to Industry for San Diego’s Blue Economy

StartBlue is an accelerator from Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Rady School of Management that supports the formation of advanced science and engineering startups tackling ocean-focused challenges and solutions integrated into science, industry, investment, and government networks.

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The startBlue Method

Training

Teams receive a crash course in ocean entrepreneurship — 8 classes over the winter and spring featuring experts from Scripps, Rady, and startBlue Program Partners. Interactive classes include training on customer discovery, value proposition, product market fit, market sizing, competitive analysis, and time to develop and hone your pitch as you learn the fundamentals in forming your blue business, covering topics from aquaculture to marine robotics and more.

Hands-on Experience

Site-visits take teams out of the classroom and into the San Diego Region's Blue Economy to tour labs and meet local companies. Workshops connect teams with domain experts for strategy and skills development, such as grant writing, protecting your intellectual property, and forming a board. Teams have access to events offered by startBlue Program Partners.

Hands-on Experience

Site visits take teams out of the classroom and into the San Diego Region's Blue Economy to tour labs and meet local companies. Workshops connect teams with domain experts for strategy and skills development, such as grant writing, protecting your intellectual property, and forming a board. Teams have access to events offered by startBlue Program Partners.

Industry Mentors

Each team is matched with a dedicated, experienced mentor to facilitate introductions and provide guidance unique to your goals. Teams work with mentors through the duration of the 6-month program and have access to a broader community of advisors through the startBlue Program Partners.

Technical Support

Teams have access to select technical facilities and experts for guidance as they develop their MVP or design a pilot study. These include some of the unique makerspaces and technical facilities at UC San Diego as well as the extensive network of scientific expertise in the Ocean Visions network.

Technical Support

Teams have access to select technical facilities and experts for guidance as they develop their MVP or design a pilot study. These include some of the unique makerspaces and technical facilities at UC San Diego as well as the extensive network of scientific expertise in the Ocean Visions network.

Fundraising

Integrating startBlue into the San Diego Blue Economy provides teams the opportunity to grow relationships with potential customers, investors, and strategic partners. Teams additionally have opportunities to exhibit at Blue Tech Week, pitch for cash prizes, and tap into the diverse innovation community around UC San Diego and the San Diego Region.