The StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is one of the most promising acceleration programs focused on the Blue Economy in the United States, and it just announced its newest cohort of entrepreneurs.
Based at UC San Diego, the program was born from a partnership between two heavyweights: the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management. The list of selected startups shows that the ocean is increasingly at the center of conversations around innovation, sustainability, and technology.
The goal of StartBlue goes beyond just supporting cool ideas. The mission is to take ocean-focused businesses and give them real structure to grow: training, mentorship, access to capital, connections with experts, and even non-dilutive funding for those who complete the program.
This new cohort brings together 12 teams split into two development tracks, each designed for a different stage of business maturity. From AI-powered imaging technologies to offshore anchoring systems to ocean intelligence platforms for fishers — the variety of solutions shows just how much this sector has to offer. 🌊
What is StartBlue and why it matters
StartBlue is not just another accelerator program. It was created with a very specific mission: to put the Blue Economy on the tech innovation map in a serious and structured way. Tied to UC San Diego — one of the most respected universities in the world for ocean sciences — the program has access to scientific and academic infrastructure that few accelerators can match.
That means the entrepreneurs who go through StartBlue are not just getting business advice. They have access to researchers, labs, and data that help turn a promising idea into something truly market-ready. It is this combination of ocean expertise from Scripps with the entrepreneurial preparation and leadership of the Rady School that sets the program apart from the rest.
As Jack Gilbert, StartBlue principal investigator and professor of microbial oceanography, explains, the program acts as a bridge between promising ocean innovation and real-world impact. By combining ocean knowledge with business mentorship, networking, and access to capital, StartBlue helps small businesses and entrepreneurs turn breakthrough technologies into scalable solutions for healthier oceans, more resilient coastlines, and a more prosperous blue economy.
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Worth noting that StartBlue is one of the recipients of the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Initiative (under the U.S. Department of Commerce) in the program’s Phase 2. This initiative supports small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to bring solutions to market that benefit the U.S. Ocean Enterprise and the Blue Economy as a whole. In practice, StartBlue supports teams that are commercializing observation technologies focused on the ocean, coastal regions, and the Great Lakes.
Blue Economy: the concept behind the program
The Blue Economy is a concept that encompasses everything related to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and preservation of marine ecosystems. Fishing, offshore energy, marine biotechnology, coastal tourism, maritime transportation, maritime security, and monitoring technology are just a few of the segments that make up this massive universe.
And this is exactly the space where StartBlue operates — connecting forward-thinking entrepreneurs with an ecosystem that has the capital, knowledge, and drive to grow responsibly.
The program’s model also stands out for how it structures its support. This is not just about one-off mentoring sessions or an event at the end. StartBlue offers continuous guidance, with access to investor networks specializing in blue tech, support for regulatory navigation — which in the ocean sector is quite complex — visibility, and streamlined access to technology development facilities.
For startups that complete the cycle, there is also the opportunity to receive non-dilutive funding. That means money that does not require founders to give up equity in their company. For early-stage entrepreneurs, that can be the difference between being able to take the next step or not.
The two tracks: Launch and Scale
The new StartBlue cohort was organized into two distinct tracks, and this split makes total sense when you understand the logic behind the program. Each startup is classified based on its business stage and its technology readiness level — a measurement system used to assess the maturity of a given technology.
Launch Track
The Launch track is geared toward early-stage startups. It includes ocean entrepreneurship classes and workshops on topics like customer discovery, business model canvas, pitch preparation, fundraising, intellectual property, and small business innovation research applications. The teams in this track are:
- Center for Environmental Imaging: develops high-resolution imaging and AI-powered analytics to turn environmental data into decision-making support.
- Cetocean: creates a platform that generates super-resolution data on sea surface temperature.
- Deep Anchor Solutions Inc.: develops scalable tube-based anchors for cost-effective deployment of floating offshore infrastructure.
- Magnesis Robotics: develops bioinspired propulsion and pumping technologies for quieter, more energy-efficient underwater systems.
- Watts on Water: develops geospatial intelligence tools to assess site feasibility for water-based renewable energy systems.
Scale Track
The Scale track was designed for mid-stage startups. It includes training opportunities to advance technology readiness levels, scale operations, and grow the business. The teams in this track are:
- AquaPoro Technologies, Inc.: scalable atmospheric water harvesting systems that operate below the humidity threshold of conventional systems at much lower energy costs, turning air into ultrapure water.
- Benchmark Labs, Inc.: provides site-calibrated climate intelligence for the maritime, construction, energy, and agriculture sectors.
- Hawaii Ocean Power Solutions LLC: a wave-powered data collection platform that enables automation of marine operations such as aquaculture and subsea infrastructure inspection.
- Lucendi, Inc.: an AI-powered platform for automated characterization of micro-objects in water, from microplastics to harmful algal blooms and pathogens.
- Scoot Science: develops ocean intelligence software for fishers, fish farmers, and marine operators.
- SpaceTime Industries: builds autonomous command-and-control systems that detect and respond to threats against critical ocean infrastructure.
- Sub Sea Sonics, LLC: low-cost underwater equipment recovery systems, including acoustic and timer-based releases.
Upon completing the program, startups in the Launch track can apply for up to $20,000 in non-dilutive funding, while those in the Scale track can compete for up to $150,000. 💰
The real impact of the program on the innovation ecosystem
Talking about innovation is easy. The challenge is creating real conditions for it to happen — and that is where the StartBlue track record starts telling an interesting story. So far, the program has supported 34 ocean-focused startups that collectively raised $19.5 million during their time as participants.
Among the alumni making waves in ocean innovation, a few examples stand out. Kai Pono Solutions has a patented system aimed at transforming the stormwater industry with a low-impact filtration device. Greenwater Scientific is a climate-tech startup producing natural, negative-emission air purifiers by harnessing the photosynthetic power of ocean plankton and algae. And Del Mar Oceanographic builds wave-powered vertical profiling systems.
People who have been through the program often highlight the value of the network. According to Navy McKee, CEO and founder of Kai Pono Solutions, working with StartBlue introduced her to the blue industry niche. Now, wherever she presents her product, she can say she went through the program and instantly gains credibility thanks to the network involved. She also points out that even years after graduating, she still receives support and access to resources whenever she needs them — something she describes as a lifelong relationship.
Another point worth highlighting is the program’s role as a bridge between science and market. One of the biggest problems in ocean innovation is that a lot of cutting-edge research ends up locked away in university labs, unable to reach the market in a practical and scalable way. StartBlue works directly on that gap, helping researchers and entrepreneurs translate scientific discoveries into products and services the world can actually use.
Where StartBlue’s support comes from
StartBlue’s initial funding came in 2020 through the Economic Development Administration’s Industry Challenge Award, which drives high-growth entrepreneurship in the United States. That funding was matched locally by members of the Scripps Director’s Council, the Builder’s Initiative, and other philanthropic supporters.
The program also relies on a robust network of partners, including the Port of San Diego and the Blue Economy Incubator, TMA Blue Tech, CONNECT, the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, California Sea Grant, the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, the Southern California Energy Innovation Network, Cleantech San Diego, Ocean Visions, 1,000 Ocean Startups, AltaSea, the U.S. Coast Guard Blue Tech Center of Expertise, the San Diego Small Business Development Centers, and Synchro.
Why the Blue Economy is booming right now
It is no coincidence that programs like StartBlue have been gaining more visibility in recent years. The Blue Economy generates roughly $1.5 trillion per year globally, according to OECD data, and projections suggest that number could double by 2030. With rising concerns about food security, climate change, and the search for cleaner energy sources, the ocean has come to be seen as one of the most strategic territories for 21st-century tech innovation.
At the same time, technology has finally reached a point where solving ocean problems has become more feasible. Low-cost sensors, aquatic drones, machine learning models trained on marine data, satellite connectivity, and real-time analytics platforms are enabling smaller startups to do things that were previously only possible for large institutions with massive budgets.
On top of that, interest from governments and international organizations in this space is growing at a rapid pace. Public policies focused on marine sustainability, stricter regulations on ocean use, and dedicated funding programs for blue tech are creating a more favorable environment for anyone looking to build a business in this sector. For the teams going through StartBlue, understanding this regulatory landscape and knowing how to navigate it is an essential part of the journey.
What to expect in the next steps
With the new cohort underway, the coming months will be packed with work for the 12 selected teams. The pace of an accelerator program is intense by nature: frequent mentoring sessions, themed workshops, meetings with investors, and the constant challenge of evolving the product while also learning how to build a sustainable business.
This year’s edition of StartBlue will wrap up with an Ocean Enterprise showcase, part of TMA BlueTech Week. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, at the Robert Paine Scripps Forum for Science, Society and the Environment at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. More details will be released in the weeks leading up to the date.
StartBlue continues building its reputation as one of the most relevant accelerators for anyone looking to drive real innovation within the Blue Economy. And with a cohort this diverse and promising, the chances of seeing at least some of these teams become global leaders in the sector are pretty high. The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet — and it is about time technology and entrepreneurship paid more attention to it. 🌊
