Startup Applications Now Accepted for Participation in StartBlue's Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Scheme
The University of California San Diego (UCSD) is proud to announce the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, a unique four-month program designed to support U.S.-based ocean intelligence startups. This immersive program, a collaboration between the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management, aims to launch and scale ocean-based scientific research into commercially viable solutions, aligning with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Ocean Enterprise Initiative.
StartBlue offers a comprehensive range of benefits for ocean-focused startups, including:
1. **Ocean Entrepreneurship Training**: Tailored training for ocean intelligence ventures, equipping startups with the necessary skills to succeed. 2. **Mentorship**: Access to a diverse team of industry and ocean experts, providing valuable guidance and support. 3. **Technical Facilities**: Opportunities to build, test, and refine prototypes using ocean-specific technical facilities. 4. **Business Development Connections**: Access to regional, national, and global Blue Economy partners, facilitating collaborations and business development. 5. **Funding Opportunities**: Eligibility to apply for non-dilutive funding up to $200,000, helping alleviate financial pressures without giving up equity. 6. **No Cost and No Equity**: The program is offered at no cost and does not take equity in participating startups, making it an attractive resource for early-stage companies.
The program includes both in-person sessions in San Diego and virtual programming, culminating in a Showcase Demo Day at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography during TMA Blue Tech Week.
UC San Diego, established in 1960, is one of the top 15 research universities in the world, driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth, and make the world a better place. Scripps Oceanography, an organisation at UC San Diego, is one of the world's most important centres for global earth science research and education. Scripps scientists work to understand and protect the planet, investigating oceans, Earth, and atmosphere to find solutions to environmental challenges.
If you are an ocean-focused startup, applications are open for the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator. Eligible startups will be accepted into one of two tracks: Launch for early-stage startups and Scale for later-stage startups. The deadline to apply for this year's cohort is July 31, 2025.
For more information about StartBlue and UC San Diego, please visit their respective websites. This program is a testament to UC San Diego's commitment to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and advancing the Blue Economy.
An ocean-focused startup could benefit from the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, a program offering ocean entrepreneurship training, mentorship, technical facilities, business development connections, funding opportunities, and a no-cost, no-equity structure. This initiative, a collaboration between the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego, aligns with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Enterprise Initiative, illustrating the university's dedication to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and advancing the Blue Economy, which intertwines oceanographic research, finance, business, and technology.
