The OCEAN IMPACT
PITCHFEST 2022

The Winners of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2022 have now been announced.

Pitchfest is OIO’s global initiative to discover, support, and accelerate startups working on transformative solutions to improve ocean health.

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Finalists and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry this year. Follow us for alerts on future Pitchfests.

MEET THE WINNERS

Are you ready?

Are you a startup or entrepreneur working to transform ocean health?

Check out the previous Winners and Finalists recognised in previous years of Pitchfest below.

2022 Finalists | 2021 Finalists | 2020 Finalists

Watch the Pitchfest 2022 Winners video to see what the hype is about.

WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY

WINNER

• $50,000 AUD cash prize
• Access to key business and science mentors
• OIO Communications Boost
• Extensive exposure over OIO and partner channels
TWO RUNNERS UP

• $10,000 AUD cash prize (First Runner Up)
• OIO Communications Boost
• Extensive exposure over OIO and partner channels
NINE FINALISTS

• Dedicated Ocean Impact Podcast interview
• OIO Communications Boost
• Extensive exposure over OIO and partner channels
SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

• $10,000 AUD cash prize
• Extensive exposure through our Partner Network
• Be recognised as a leader in addressing a key ocean challenge area
NSW Ocean Innovation Award

• $10,000 AUD cash prize

• Extensive exposure over OIO and partner channels

• Be highly recognised for your solution within key stakeholder networks in NSW
Exposure and Experience

• Improve storytelling skills by developing a brief succinct video and application
• Share your startup story with the world through OIO’s Communication Boost to broad, global audiences

SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

PLASTIC SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTED BY ZIP WATER

The Plastic Pollution Solution Spotlight Award presented by Zip Water will reward the highest quality Pitchfest 2022 applicant working on an innovative solution to reduce ocean plastic pollution with $10,000 cash and extensive exposure through OIO and our Partner Network.
CLIMATE SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTED BY OIO

The Climate Solution Spotlight Award presented by OIO will reward the highest quality Pitchfest 2022 submission working on an innovative solution to climate change with $10,000 cash and extensive exposure through OIO and our Partner Network.
MONITORING SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTED BY DICKER DATA

The Ocean Monitoring Spotlight Award presented by Dicker Data will reward the highest quality Pitchfest 2022 submission working on an innovative solution to improve ocean monitoring with $10,000 cash and extensive exposure through OIO and our Partner Network.
SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTED BY AUSTRAL FISHERIES

The Sustainable Ocean Harvesting Spotlight Award presented by Austral Fisheries will reward the highest-quality Pitchfest 2022 submission working on an innovative solution to sustainable ocean harvesting with $10,000 cash and extensive exposure through OIO and our Partner Network.
NSW Ocean Innovation Award

The NSW Ocean Innovation Award proudly funded by NSW Department of Planning and Environment will award the highest-quality Pitchfest 2022 submission operating in NSW with $10,000 cash and extensive exposure through OIO and our Partner Network.

Application Criteria

IMPACT

Entrants must have the potential to significantly improve ocean health through their business model.
SCALEABILITY

Entrants must have the potential to grow rapidly.
STARTUP

Entrants are expected to have a refined business idea with some level of customer validation and annual turnover of less than $5milUSD.
STRUCTURE

Entrants must be pursuing a profit motive business model. Entry is not open to not-for-profits.

Ocean Impact Themes

Ocean Health

Eg. Ecosystem protection and restoration,Waste management & recycling, Circular economy, Alternative materials, Agricultural practices, Urban development, Blue financing, Sustainable tourism, Ocean sports & activities

Ocean Energy

Eg. Harnessing renewable energy from the ocean to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Wave energy, Tidal energy from currents or ranges, Ocean thermal energy using temperature variations to create energy, Solutions to increase the supply and demand for ocean energy

Sustainable ocean harvesting

Eg. Traditional fisheries & aquaculture, Smart fishing gear, Supply chain digitisation, Regenerative aquaculture, Aquaculture digitisation, Waste reduction, Fish feed replacements, Ocean farming, Lab grown seafood

NEW FRONTIERS

Eg. Large scale seaweed farming, Marine bio solutions and products, Marine biomimicry, Ocean exploration, Underwater robotics, IOT for oceans, Offshore renewable energy aquaculture, Floating cities

Transport
& Security

Eg. Alternative fuels & ship design, Electrification of boats, Increased ports efficiency, Improved security & goods transparency, Container digitisation, Decarbonisation of vessels

Leisure & Inspiration

Eg. Increasing ocean literacy, Virtual and augmented reality, Sustainable tourism, Ocean accessibility, Mainstream media projects, Improving impacts of sports and leisure

Judging Criteria

Your solution must have the potential to significantly improve ocean health.
Your solution should be highly novel or unique.
You must demonstrate a good level of product/market fit i.e. customers need your solution and your number of customers and/or customer pipeline is growing fast.
Your business must be able to compete against existing competitors and fend off copycats.
You must have a realistic business plan and a high likeliness of generating sustainable profits.
You have the right balance of skills and experience to build your business.  
You must be able to clearly articulate the problem you’re working on, the size of the opportunity & potential for impact, and why you have a great chance of being successful. Extra consideration will be given to applications with an attractive video entry.

PITCHFEST JUDGING PANEL

Jas Chambers

Chair and Co-founder, Ocean Decade Australia
LinkedIn
Amy Low

Brand and Marketing Director, Piping Hot
LinkedIn
Khunapong Khunaraksa

Director of Operations & Strategy, The Circulate Initiative
LinkedIn
Richard Leck

Head of Oceans, WWF Australia
LinkedIn
Adriana Verges

Professor in Marine Ecology, UNSW
LinkedIn
Jonas Skattum Svegaarden

CEO, Katapult Ocean;
CIO, Katapult
LinkedIn
David Carter

CEO, Austral Fisheries
LinkedIn
Julia Kay

Co-founder & Co-CEO, Great Wrap
LinkedIn
Sheree Marris

Marine Biologist and Director, Coral Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn
Larsen Mettler

Managing Director, S2G Ventures
LinkedIn
Jenna Palumbo

Head of Impact Investment, Minderoo Foundation
LinkedIn
Melissa Walsh

Program Manager, Ocean Finance Initiative, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

LinkedIn

FAQs

Pitchfest is open to applications from all over the world.
Neither! The cash prizes are completely unencumbered prizes with no strings attached.
Applications close on Tuesday 27 September 2022, meaning both your written form and pitch video entries will need to be submitted by this time. Finalists will be announced on 25 October 2022 and the Winners and Runners Up will be announced 24 November 2022.
Applying to Pitchfest is a two step process:
STEP 1: A simple online application form.
STEP 2: Successful applicants will be invited to submit an up to three-minute pitch video. OIO will contact applicants within 3 business days to inform them if they have been successful in proceeding to Step 2.
Applicants will be notified before 14 Oct 2022, informing them if they’ve been shortlisted as a Finalist.
Between 14 Oct and 28 Oct, the Pitchfest external judging panel will assess the finalists’ online applications and pitch videos and prepare a short number of questions to ask each Finalist. Finalists will be required to submit a short video submission answering the judges’ questions by 3 Nov 2022. Judges will then use a combination of online applications, pitch videos, video answers and publicly available information to submit their votes for each Finalist.  
You can find the Pitchfest eligibility criteria here.
Yes, you absolutely can, and we encourage you to do so.
No, applications can only be from organisations pursuing a profit motive business model.
The stylistic approach you take to creating your pitch video is completely up to you, but we have provided a number of useful resources in this document.

And you can review the Pitchfest 2020 and Pitchfest 2021 pitch videos here.
The OIO Communications Boost includes:
• Coverage of your video pitch and your startup through OIO - and select partner - channels including social media, website, and email; and
• the opportunity to participate in an episode of The Ocean Impact Podcast.

“The world is waking up to the importance of finding solutions to treat the world we live in with more respect. I congratulate the founders of OIO for what you are doing to encourage and stimulate brilliant ideas and I also congratulate those who have stepped up and used their good minds to come up with solutions.”
~ Sylvia Earle: Globally renowned marine biologist, oceanographer, author, and National Geographic Explorer in Residence
Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020 Winners Announcement
“Pinovo was a Finalist in the 2021 Ocean Impact Pitchfest. We really recommend to those Ocean Innovators who have not already done so, to participate in an Ocean Impact Pitchfest with Tim, Nick Chiarelli and all of the great OIO team. This is an excellent way to raise the profile of your solutions, and on top of that, they are lovely people to deal with!”

~ Pinovo: Pitchfest 2021 Finalist
via LinkedIn
“Winning the inaugural Ocean Impact Pitchfest is an absolute honour for the whole Planet Protector Packaging team and we’d like to thank Ocean Impact Organisation for supporting us as we strive to eliminate polystyrene from the ocean. Who would have thought the humble sheep would have such a positive impact on Planet Ocean and be the secret weapon to defending the ocean from polluting plastics.”
~ Joanne Howarth: CEO of Planet Protector Packaging
Inaugural Winner, Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020
“Wave Swell Energy is elated to have been chosen as a Runner Up in the Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020. To attain this honour in an international competition with nearly 200 entries from 38 different countries is extremely pleasing, and a great accolade for both the company and the technology.”
~ Tom Denniss: Executive Chair of Wave Swell Energy
Second Place, Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020
“We are so proud to be named a Runner Up from a hugely impressive line-up of innovative companies. It’s awesome to see marine impact startups being recognised, even in these troubling times when ocean health can easily be forgotten. ARC Marine’s mission to accelerate reef creation is fully aligned with OIO”s goal to accelerate 100 ocean impact startups in 5 years.”
~ Tom Birkbeck: Co-founder and CEO of ARC Marine
Third Place, Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020
“It was definitely difficult to choose a top three from the finalists working to make a positive impact on our oceans. The challenges facing our oceans and marine wildlife are complex and we need to dream big and find new solutions to solve them. I’ve been buoyed by the results of Pitchfest 2020 and look forward to more innovations for the ocean being uncovered and supported by OIO in the coming years.”
~ Richard Leck: Head of Oceans WWF Australia, Judge of Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020
“It is such a great honour for a startup like Sea Forest to be named Winner of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021. Our goal has always been to make rapid progress and meaningful impact on climate change through emissions reduction. We have a long way to go but the support provided to the company through Ocean Impact Organisation will assist in driving Sea Forest to scale its IP in science and engineering to deliver a sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry, regional employment and educational opportunities and positive environmental outcomes for Planet Ocean”
~Sam Elsom: Co-founder and CEO of Sea Forest
Winner Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021
“To be named as the Winner of the Generation Impact Incubator is an absolute dream come true. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to have our initiative Sine Surf recognised in such a way and can say without doubt that my inspiration and determination has reached new levels! I’m dying to dig into the knowledge and resources available so that our initiative can immediately begin saving waste and reducing emissions to improve ocean health”
~Emile Theau: Sine Surf
Winner, HP Generation Impact Incubator
“It’s critically important that innovative solutions to improve ocean health are part of the conversation concerning the climate and environmental emergency and how we build a fair, sustainable and inclusive economy. We are thrilled to be a Major Partner of OIO and to see the great progress they are making through programs like Pitchfest. Congratulations to all of the Winners, Finalists and applicants this year - keep up the great work.”
~Fiona Nixon, Head of Strategy at Bank Australia, Judge of Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021