A potential entrepreneur talks to StartBlue representatives at their table at a networking event.
StartBlue offers a unique one stop shop for ocean intelligence startups to advance their technical and commercial goals at no cost and no equity to participate! Eligible startups aligned with the NOAA Ocean Enterprise can apply to receive non-dilutive funding awards to invest in their technology and commercialization development.
Some key program benefits include:
Training
Startups receive customized and interactive courses in ocean entrepreneurship on topics including customer discovery, business model canvas, pitch preparation, founding an ocean startup, regulatory considerations, and go to market strategy.
Mentorship
Startups will be matched with a team of mentors featuring experts from Scripps, Rady, and our vast network of partners and >100 existing entrepreneurship and ocean intelligence experts specializing in the blue economy. View past mentors here.
Technical Support
Startups can receive facilitated access to select technical facilities and experts to build, test, and refine prototypes. This can include Scripps Oceanography Makerspace & Hydraulics Lab and UC San Diego facilities, as well as the extensive network of scientific expertise and testing facilities in our Network including the Synchro testbed.
Fundraising
Startups will participate in competitions for cash prizes and receive introductions to relevant investors and Venture Capitalists. Eligible startups aligned with the Ocean Enterprise can apply to receive non-dilutive awards for technology and commercialization development.
Visibility
Startups will be featured at the annual TMA Blue Tech Week conference November 17-20 in San Diego with a dedicated Showcase Demo Day on November 20 hosted at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Network Connections and Visibility
Startups will gain visibility by connecting with our over 80 regional, national, and global partners through events, workshops, conferences, introductions, and media engagements.
- Regional opportunities: San Diego boasts unique oceanographic resources, and a rich Blue Economy of ~114,000 individuals and 4,320 companies producing $16.2 billion of direct sales (2020 San Diego Maritime Industry Report). Key partners include UC San Diego, Scripps Corporate Alliance, TMA Bluetech, The Port of San Diego, Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, Cleantech San Diego, The San Diego Military Advisory Council, Naval X SoCal Tech Bridge, and more!
- National network: StartBlue has developed an wide-reaching ecosystem of national partners to support startups in scaling their impact nation-wide. Key partners include the Marine Technology Society (MTS), US Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise, Ocean Visions, NOAA Technology Partnerships Office SBIR Resources and Training, and more!
- Global scale: StartBlue is a member of the 1,000 Ocean Startup coalition with over 50 entrepreneurship supporting organizations and investors around the world working within the UN Decade of Ocean Science initiative to support 1,000 ocean startups by 2030.
Continued Support
Startups will receive a one year complimentary TMA Bluetech Membership upon completing the program. TMA Bluetech will support the continued growth of StartBlue startups through workshops, networking opportunities, conferences, connections, and access to their network of over 24,000 industry contacts including local/national/international partners, capital providers, regulatory/policy bodies, and more!