Inaugural Cohort
Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator
These 11 startups were selected for the first cohort of the Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator and received intensive programming over a 4-month period. Startups received access to Washington Maritime Blue industry and ocean leaders alongside WeWork Labs’ global network of mentors and advisors. This is a powerful opportunity for local companies to grow and secure funding in a sector where capital is often scarce.
Watch the cohort as they showcased their extraordinary work and pitch their ideas to a curated audience of investors, mentors, corporate partners, and government officials.
From digital solutions to large infrastructure – innovation in the Blue Economy will need a diverse and varied financing approach; from public funding to equity stakes. We are seeing investments from Angel groups, Venture Capital, Impact and Corporate investors. There is a need and opportunity for philanthropy, debt financing, and coordination of public dollars to fill gaps and buy-down risk. The blue economy will need to blend financing options, build hybrid stacks of capital, and coordinate across public and private agencies.
#BuildBackBlue
These new ventures are passionate about finding innovative solutions to benefit the maritime and ocean economies, healthy marine and ocean ecosystems, and equitable & resilient communities.
Beam Reach catalyzes marine research and education about the oceans, bioacoustics, and sustainability across the critical habitat of the endangered orcas — from northern California to British Columbia — with focus on Puget Sound and the Salish Sea to empower future generations to protect our orca population.
Discovery Health MD offers a suite of services to improve health at every stage of a mariner’s career, reduce an employer’s risk exposure, and alleviate the fear and anxiety of providing medical care at sea.
ecoSPEARS is a cleantech solutions company utilizing green, NASA-developed environmental technology for the cost-effective, sustainable, and permanent extraction and destruction of persistent environmental toxins.
eOceans is building data and analytical software to make sure Ocean science can keep pace with business, society and ocean change.
Equll’s digital platform helps eliminate waste and inefficiencies through technological solutions that directly connect Truck Owner Operators and Shippers by automating the entire process with no hassle.
Freeboard Sound Solutions is a technology and venture building a new engine exhaust gas aftertreatment system which reduces fuel consumption while also decreasing nitrogen oxides particulate matter. This technology is a lighter, smaller, less costly alternative to diesel engines.
Net Your Problem provides fishing gear recycling services to fishermen and fishing companies. The collected gear is upcycled into raw plastic that’s transformed into a variety of products such as kayaks, bathing suits, carpets and office furniture.
OneForNeptune is changing the food industry with healthy, high-protein snack foods made from sustainable seafood products.
Pure Watercraft develops high-performance electric outboard motors & battery packs to enable a new era of enjoyable, accessible, environmentally-friendly boating.
SPBES provides high power lithium ion energy storage to hybridize or electrify heavy industrial equipment. Purpose engineered for the rigours of the commercial maritime industry, SPBES is safer and longer lasting than any other product on the market.
These selected startups have benefited from intensive programming provided by WeWork Labs over an accelerated 4-month period. In addition to being housed at WeWork Labs, startups received access to the WeWork Labs global network of mentors and advisors, be a part of unique programming, and have the opportunity to connect with the larger WeWork community. In addition, the cohort will have additional mentorship opportunities, drawing on Maritime Blue’s coalition of industry experts, as well as “pilots with enterprises” demonstration and sales opportunities, and vast connections to the global maritime industry.
Innovation across Washington’s maritime sector is critical for a thriving economy and in the fight to protect our planet and ocean life. These challenges loom large and demand more intentional efforts to ensure solutions are sought by a broader cross-section of companies and individuals, utilizing innovative approaches, such as a maritime accelerator.