OIO’S INCREDIBLE 2022: YEAR IN REVIEW
2023 set to be another sensational year for OIO!
The results achieved and the support we’ve secured this year will allow us to again “Level Up” our impact in 2023. We look forward to taking you on the journey as we continue contributing to the growing global ocean health innovation ecosystem.
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Delivered the inaugural Ocean Impact Accelerator Program (OIAP) with six fantastic startups from four countries
Supported the raise of a $1.05m startup investment fund for the six startups in the OIAP 2022
Delivered The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2022 presented by HP Australia, with ten fantastic startups recognised as Finalists
Presented the inaugural NSW Ocean Innovation Award - funded by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment - as part of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2022
Provided over $100k of prize money, and additional in-kind support to the various winners of Pitchfest 2022
Awarded scholarships to 15 emerging early-career ocean scientists to participate in the Ocean Impact Ideation Program 2022 – funded by Bank Australia and the Kirby Foundation
Secured 3-year partnerships with Minderoo Foundation and US-based foundation Builders Vision to help OIO’ scale for impact’
Secured additional 3-year funding agreements with three philanthropic foundations
Welcomed Zero Co and SARAH & SEBASTIAN as new ‘Official Supporters’
Delivered our inaugural INNOVOCEAN showcase event - funded by the NSW Government - at the Australian National Maritime Museum to showcase OIO’s startup community to investors, industry, government and ocean science representatives.
Participated in several high-profile events, including facilitating the ‘Ocean Deep Dive’ at the Impact Investment Summit Asia-Pacific and sponsoring the Blue Solutions Summit as part of the Ocean Lovers Festival.
Built the team with two key full-time hires: Communications and Social Media Coordinator (Amelia Heldt); Community Manager (Gabriela Scharf)
The Ocean Impact Accelerator Program 2022
Our goal since day one has been establishing an Accelerator Program to support investment in startups working on game-changing solutions to improve ocean health. We’re incredibly proud to have delivered on this in 2022 with six brilliant startups participating in the inaugural OIAP 2022:
With the support of our program delivery partners at EnergyLab, the startups participated in a 7-month virtual program culminating in each startup pitching live at OIO’s INNOVOCEAN event in Sydney on 24 November 2022.
To view the live pitches from INNOVOCEAN, please visit this YouTube playlist. To review any current investment opportunities with OIAP startups, please complete this short form to receive their pitch decks. More info here.
Ocean Impact Accelerator Program Angel Investment Fund
Alongside the launch of the Ocean Impact Accelerator Program, we supported the raise of $1.05m from 16 investors to invest in the six startups from the first cohort. Most investors in this fund are from OIO’s Founding Member community and others who have been closely following the organisation.
Want to find out more about future investment opportunities, including the startup investment fund for the Ocean Impact Accelerator Program 2023 cohort? Please complete this EOI form, and we’ll be in touch in early 2023.
The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2022
Since launching in 2020, The Ocean Impact Pitchfest has become one of the top global competitions to showcase and celebrate the best startups working on scalable solutions to transform ocean health.
Pitchfest 2022 was no different, with incredible applications streaming in from 38 countries around the world. Ten brilliant startups from eight countries were announced as Finalists. US-based Nohbo was awarded Winner, with their solution to reduce plastic pollution through water-soluble pods for personal care and hygiene products.
We also included a new category this year, The NSW Ocean Innovation Award presented by the NSW Government. This category awarded innovative startups working on key marine threats in NSW with cash and in-kind support.
Congratulations to Sydney-based Hullbot (pictured right with The Hon. James Griffin MP) for taking out this inaugural award.
Please visit this article for a run-down of the Pitchfest 2022 results, and find the full list of Winners, Runners Up, and Spotlight Award recipients below:
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Pitchfest 2022 Winner: Nohbo (US)
Pitchfest 2022 First Runner Up: Hullbot (Australia)
Pitchfest 2022 Second Runner Up: SLURRYTUB (Australia)
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Plastic Spotlight Award: Better Packaging Co. (NZ)
Monitoring Spotlight Award: FishLAT (US)
Harvesting Spotlight Award: OnDeck Fisheries AI (Canada)
Climate Spotlight Award: Hullbot (Aus)
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NSW Ocean Innovation Award Winner: Hullbot
NSW Ocean Innovation Award First Runner Up: SLURRYTUB
NSW Ocean Innovation Award Second Runner Up: Carapac
Ocean Impact Ideation Program 2022
OIO awarded 15 scholarships this year to early-career ocean scientists to participate in the Ocean Impact Ideation Program (OIIP).
Our earliest phase innovation program, the OIIP aims to turn ocean academics into ‘oceanpreneurs’, and was made possible by generous grants from Bank Australia and the Kirby Foundation - thank you!
With our program delivery partners EnergyLab, we delivered a six-week virtual program to the enthusiastic ocean academics with fantastic results.
The program included six modules and culminated with each oceanpreneur delivering a short 60-second elevator pitch, outlining their potential commercial solution to address a key ocean challenge.
We plan to deliver the Ideation Program in a similar format in 2023, with the goal of expanding it in future years to give more ocean academics the tools they need to develop scalable, commercial solutions to improve ocean health.
In future, we also hope to provide cash grants to those program participants with the greatest chance of achieving commercial success and ocean impact.
We welcome interest from commercial and philanthropic partners to enable us to expand this program in 2023 and beyond.
OIO secures 3-year Partnership with Minderoo Foundation
We announced a new 3-year partnership with Minderoo Foundation in August 2022 to help OIO “scale for impact” and double our previous goal of accelerating 100 startups and entrepreneurs over five years, to 200 supported and accelerated by 2027.
The partnership will enable us to build our team and increase our capacity to manage stakeholders and deliver high quality innovation programs.
OIO secures 3-year Partnership with Builders Vision
We also announced a 3-year partnership with US-based impact platform Builders Vision in December 2022.
The partnership comes at a key moment in OIO’s journey, with the support slated to increase the impact and reach of key programs/ initiatives. The funding will also support capacity building within our organisation to ensure our innovation programs continue to attract and nurture high-impact ocean startups well into the future.
3-year Funding Agreements Announced with Additional Australian Philanthropic Foundations
In 2022 we evolved our fundraising strategy to secure longer term ‘strategic’ relationships with key philanthropic partners.
We are exceptionally grateful to our new 2022 multi-year philanthropic partners ACME Foundation and Auxilium Foundation, and look forward to delivering greater impact with their support.
Zero Co. and Sarah & Sebastian Join as OIO Official Supporters
We were pleased to welcome Zero Co. and SARAH & SEBASTIAN as new Official Supporters of OIO in 2022. They join existing Official Supporters, including Austral Fisheries, Dicker Data, Floatspace and Zip Water.
Zero Co. is an Australian company revolutionising the personal care and home cleaning industries with their novel’ zero waste’ solutions utilising recycled materials and innovative return and refill systems.
SARAH & SEBASTIAN is an Australian jewellery business passionate about supporting ocean conservation. 2022 saw the company launch its Xanthe project, a commitment to donate $1m to ocean conservation initiatives over ten years.
OIO Delivers Inaugural INNOVOCEAN Showcase Event
A powerful outcome for 2022 was delivering our inaugural INNOVOCEAN showcase event at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on 24 November 2022.
This phenomenal event, proudly funded by the NSW Government Department of Planning & Environment, saw us showcase diverse ocean impact startups to an exclusive audience of investors, industry leaders, Government representatives, ocean science experts, nonprofits and OIO partners/supporters and members.
INNOVOCEAN included:
Live pitches from the six startups in the Ocean Impact Accelerator Program
The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2022 live award announcement
A ‘Startup Zone’ connecting OIAP participants with prospective investors
Q&A with our CEO Nick Chiarelli and Science Communicator Laura Wells
Live music, food, and opportunities for guests to network and explore collaborations for impact.
We look forward to delivering INNOVOCEAN 2023 and continuing to showcase the best startups from the global ocean health innovation ecosystem to key stakeholders and the world.
The Blue Solutions Summit
OIO sponsored the Blue Solutions Summit at the Australian National Maritime Museum on 10 March 2022, with co-founders Nick Chiarelli and Tim Silverwood having active roles.
The event gathered ocean stakeholders as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, and represented an excellent opportunity for OIO to achieve significant exposure, alignment, and awareness of our mission. You can view a brief video from the Summit here.
Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific
We were invited to help curate ‘Ocean Deep Dive’ day at the Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific in Sydney (30 Mar-1 Apr). The dedicated day focused on emerging impact investment opportunities in the ocean sector. OIO worked with Paul Holthus (CEO of the World Ocean Council) and our Advisor Michael van Niekerk to deliver an engaging experience to the crowd.
The day concluded with a live pitch session from several Australian startups in the OIO ecosystem currently seeking investment, including Great Wrap, Uluu, and Ocean Farmr.
Building The Team
2022 saw some wonderful additions to the OIO team with two new full-time hires, a part-time contractor and some excellent volunteers.
We are immensely grateful to our philanthropic partners the Prior Family Foundation and Minderoo Foundation for supporting the two full-time employees, being:
Gabriela Scharf
Community Manager
Amelia Heldt
Communications and Social Media Coordinator
That’s a wrap!
As you can see, 2022 was a big year for Ocean Impact Organisation, with 2023 set to be even better!
We want to thank everyone who has supported us, spread the word, and followed the OIO journey so far.
It’s with the support of ocean stakeholders across the globe, from beachgoers to business owners, that we make our greatest impact.
Wishing you a wonderful Festive Season and a Happy New Year,
From the OIO team
