THE OCEAN INTELLIGENCE
INNOVATION ENGINE

THE OCEAN INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION ENGINE

PARTNERS
0+
OCEAN-FOCUSED STARTUPS
1
FEMALE-FOUNDED
1%
FUNDING RAISED
$1m

StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator

Building on the success of the StartBlue program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego, this enhanced accelerator is designed to launch and scale the latest ocean-based scientific research into actionable, and commercially viable solutions to support maritime security, coastal resilience, and economic growth.
The StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is an intensive immersive four month program designed to help ocean intelligence startups launch and scale to support the Ocean Enterprise and grow the Blue Economy. This program housed at UC San Diego combines the entrepreneurial expertise, training, and leadership of the Rady School of Management (ranked #2 in Entrepreneurship by Bloomberg Businessweek Best B-Schools) and the world class ocean expertise, technical development resources, and innovation network of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This ocean intelligence innovation engine is designed to coordinate the San Diego regional assets, extensive partner network, and support for ocean-focused start-ups across the growth continuum from early-stage startups to small and medium businesses. Offered at no cost and no equity to startups, StartBlue startups receive training and mentorship, network connections, visibility, access to capital and non-dilutive funding, and state-of-the-art ocean-focused technology development facilities required for their unique needs.
StartBlue program support model, with the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator surrounded by rings of various types of support.

The StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is a recipient of the Department of Commerce NOAA Ocean Enterprise Initiative Phase 2 award, which supports building the blue economy with ocean observing technologies, tools, and information services.

STARTBLUE SUPPORTERS

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STARTBLUE NETWORK

1000 Ocean Startups
AIIM
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
Algae Biomass Organization
AltaSea
Blue Native Consulting
Blue Robotics
Braid Theory
Cal-CAB
Black in Marine Science
Cal-COFI
California Life Sciences
CDIP
CeNCOOS
Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
Connect
County of San Diego
Cleantech San Diego
Center For Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E)
Teledyne M​arine
Fugro
IMT Lab
National Defense Industrial Association
NSF I-Corps Hub Desert and Pacific Region
Nortek Group
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Ocean Motion Technologies
Ocean Visions
Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Maritime Blue

THE STARTBLUE METHOD

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Training

Startups receive a customized course in ocean entrepreneurship featuring experts from Scripps, Rady, and our  StartBlue Network. Interactive classes include training on customer discovery, Business Model Canvas, value propositions, and much more, with ample time to develop and hone your pitch as you learn the fundamentals in forming your blue business.
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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.

Network Connections and Visibility

Connect with our vast portfolio of over 80 StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Partners. This deep resource helps ocean resilience startups navigate the growth continuum, from early-stage ideas to mid-stage prototypes. Startups will gain visibility with customer and investor connections through partner events, workshops, conferences, and media engagement. Cohort businesses will also receive membership in the TMA Blue Tech industry cluster, which includes year-round programming and opportunities to exhibit and present at the annual TMA Blue Tech Week.

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Mentors

Each StartBlue team is matched with a team of industry and technical mentors to facilitate introductions and provide guidance unique to your goals, with access to a broader community of advisors through the StartBlue Network.

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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

Startups receive facilitated access to select technical facilities and experts to build, test, and refine prototypes across a variety of specifications. These can include Scripps Oceanography facilities, such as the Scripps Sandbox Makerspace and Hydraulics Lab, as well as facilities at UC San Diego and the extensive network of scientific expertise and testing facilities in the StartBlue Network.

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Fundraising

Entrepreneurs will receive opportunities to participate in pitch competitions for cash prizes and introductions to relevant angel investors, impact funds, and VCs. Eligible startups with solutions supporting the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Initiative can apply to receive non-dilutive funding awards for Technology & Commercialization Development up to $200k.

Program Highlights

  • Tailored Tracks for Startups: Whether you are an early stage startup working on your Minimum Viable Product or a mid-stage enterprise looking to scale, our program offers specialized tracks to meet your developmental needs.
  • Global Impact: The technologies developed by our cohorts are not just viable locally but scalable globally, designed to address some of the most critical challenges facing our oceans today.
  • Continued Community Support: Startups will continue to have post-cohort ecosystem support from the program and receive one year membership to TMA Blue Tech, a leading U.S. BlueTech cluster driving innovation in maritime security, blue technology, and ocean resilience.
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Join Us

Are you ready to dive deep into ocean innovation? Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a researcher, or an investor, there’s a place for you in StartBlue. Explore our site to learn how you can contribute to a resilient and sustainable ocean future.

Please contact us at startblue@ucsd.edu.