A six-month incubator for early-stage blue economy companies, built for founders proving commercial viability before they scale.
WHO IT’S FOR
Where founders start before there's anything to scale.
Foundations guides you to a problem–solution fit — before product–market fit, and often before the company itself exists.
01
03
Pre-revenue, often pre-product
You're testing problem–solution fit, not yet product–market fit.
02
Born from research, technical insight, or direct industry experience
An existing company, with a founding team already in place
You've formed the company — even if it's just you and/or a co-founder. Foundations isn't where you find your team; it's where you prove your market.
04
A university spinout, licensed or unlicensed IP, or deep domain insight — with a commercial model that hasn't been market-tested yet
TRL 2–4
Still proving the concept works, and that it's genuinely needed.
FOCUS AREAS
where your idea fits
Circular Economy & Ocean Plastics
Waste reduction, recovery, and circular material systems for the marine environment.
Aquaculture & Blue Foods
Sustainable seafood, alternative proteins, and next-gen farming systems.
Marine Biotech & Bioscience
Compounds, materials and diagnostics derived from the marine environment for research, health and industry.
Maritime Operations & Vessel Tech
Vessel efficiency, autonomous systems, and port and marine infrastructure.
Ocean Tech & Data
Sensors, monitoring, and the intelligence layer for a data-driven ocean.
Coastal & Ecosystem Restoration
Blue carbon, habitat restoration, and nature-based climate solutions.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Six months
four stages
one validated commercial model
Foundations is structured like the business case itself is being built — layer by layer, from problem to a validated, investor-ready model.
Months 1-2 . Phase 1
Explore & Define
Frame the commercial problem, run structured customer discovery, and stress-test the founding assumption with industry experts and early pilot partners.
Months 3-4 . Phase 2
Build & Validate
Develop your business model, test pricing and unit economics, and design a meaningful pilot with the right partner.
Months 5-6 . Phase 3
Prove & Ready
Build your go-to-market plan and investor narrative, and graduate with a validated commercial model.
what you get
Mentorship & Domain Experts
Connect with founders who've been where you are, and a variety of subject matter experts across the blue economy.
Structured Validation Frameworks
Problem/solution and evidence tools to get market-ready — validating demand, refining your offer, and proving traction before you scale.
Customer & Market Validation Support
Hands-on support running customer discovery, designing pilots, and turning conversations into evidence investors and partners will trust.
Funding Pathway Guidance
We don't provide direct funding, but we connect you to it — including an MBIE-led session on grants and funding options, and connections to relevant funders.
Commercial & Business Fundamentals
The business and funding fundamentals research teams and first-time founders are rarely taught — pricing, unit economics, go-to-market, and investor readiness.
KEY DATES
Six months, mapped out.
Jul 22, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
Oct 23, 2026
Applications Open
Jan 18 - Mar 12, 2027
Dec 14, 2026 - Jan 15, 2027
Nov 2 - Dec 11, 2026
Mar 15 - May 7, 2027
Applications Close
Selection
Explore & Define
Holiday Break
Oct 16, 2026
Build & Team
Prove & Ready
EOI Open
ready to lay the foundationS?
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
acknowledgement
Ocean Impact Organisation acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand and recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundation for partnership. We pay our respects to mana whenua across the motu and acknowledge their enduring relationship with the moana, whenua, and taiao — and the practice of kaitiakitanga that shapes how we build a sustainable blue economy.
our partners
