2024

Scale your Impact

This year, we’re investing in up to ten of the most innovative ocean impact startups across Asia Pacific.

We'll equip your startup with ~$100,000 AUD investment and accelerate your commercialisation journey over this transformative four-month program.

Is that you?

Calling passionate ocean impact founders

The Ocean Impact Accelerator Program is OIO’s flagship program, providing the best ocean impact startups with the support they need to reach their potential. 

You’ll receive guaranteed investment, access to mentors, investor introductions, facilitated connections to customers and partners, and extensive exposure to OIO’s global community.

The program is founder-first, solutions-focused, and impact-driven. Your solution may be addressing a variety of ocean challenge and opportunity areas as defined in our Ocean Solution Areas below. 

Ocean Solution Areas

Are you pursuing an impact in any of these four solution areas?

Ocean
Pollution

Solutions contributing to a clean ocean that target plastic, agricultural, chemical, biological, or sound pollution.

Climate

Solutions shaping a stable climate by addressing clean ocean energy, shipping & ports emissions, or ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (ocean CDR).

Habitat & Biodiversity

Solutions contributing to thriving and restored habitats, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), nature-based solutions, and restoration or monitoring technologies.

Food
Security

Solutions that help sustainably manage ocean resources via aquaculture, fisheries, and alternative blue foods.

Reasons To Apply

Our Ocean Impact Accelerator Program gives you the support you need to succeed.

Guaranteed investment based on agreed valuation.

INVESTMENT

MENTORS

Connect to experts with the skills, resources, and networks best aligned to your business.

GUIDANCE

Get one-on-one advice from our experienced team of entrepreneurs & investors.

INVESTOR INTRODUCTIONs

We’ll help you refine your pitch and
present to a network of engaged, prequalified investors.

PROFESSIONAL
SUPPORT

No or low-cost access to professional advice including legal, financial modelling, and accounting.

Learn from the best about every aspect of developing and growing your business. From building a high-performing culture to derisking international expansion.

MASTERCLASSES

We’ll help you understand your target customer and facilitate connections domestically and internationally.

Customer INTRODUCTIONs

Ongoing Support

Be welcomed into the OIO alumni network where we continue to support your commercialisation journey long after the program is done.

Key Dates

APPLICATIONS OPEN

26 March 2024

APPLICATIONS
CLOSE

28 April 2024

Screening & Selection

29 April - 10 May 2024

Pitch
Day

20 - 24 May 2024

PROGRAM COMMENCES

1 July 2024

PROGRAM
CLOSES

8 November 2024

Selected Portfolio Companies

  • Hullbot

    Hullbot builds robots for healthy oceans, addressing the massive global issue of biofouling on vessels with its autonomous, in-water robot which inspects, maps, and cleans boat hulls.

  • ecoSPEARS

    ecoSpears develops and deploys groundbreaking technologies to eliminate ‘forever chemicals’ from the environment using non-thermal, non-combustion solutions.

  • Mayani

    Mayani is an agri-fisheries platform building a sustainable pathway to market for the Philippines' 10 million smallholder farmers and fishers.

From agri-fisheries innovation, to biofouling solutions, to NASA-developed tech to remove “forever chemicals” - our portfolio companies are diverse, scalable, and impactful!

Program ComponentS

The program is dynamic and adaptable, providing startups with the support and resources they need to navigate their unique growth trajectories successfully.

  • Tailored to align with the specific growth phase and unique needs of each startup.

  • Emphasis on founder wellbeing to ensure a balanced and sustainable entrepreneurial journey.

  • Opportunity to network with and learn from experienced founders who have navigated similar growth challenges.

  • Access to experienced mentors who provide personalised guidance and support.

  • Access to a diverse range of service providers to address specific business needs.

  • Introduction to networks and resources to facilitate accelerated growth and success.

  • Including sales enhancement, partnership development, product innovation, company culture cultivation, international expansion strategies, market analysis & entry strategies, capital investment preparation (inc VC readiness and board formation).

SELECTION CRITERIA

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

IMPACT

SCALEABILITY

You must have the potential to grow rapidly.

You have a product or solution, the beginnings of a team, and some level of customer validation.

STARTUP STAGE

STRUCTURE

You are pursuing a profit motive business model. Entry is not open to not-for-profits.

You are located in the Asia Pacific region (also encompassing Hawaii and the west coast of North America) for timezone-conducive sessions.

LOCATION

PROGRAM COST

The program is entirely free, but participation is contingent on accepting an offer of investment from our angel group at the post-money valuation of your last priced round, or a default pre-money valuation of $1,000,000AUD if you haven't raised a priced round yet.

 FAQs

  • The program will be delivered virtually from Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and is designed to suit participants from across the APAC region (eg. including Oceania, the Pacific, East Asia, South Asia) or those from the West Coast of North America looking to expand into the APAC region (eg. inclduing Hawaii, US West Coast, British Columbia, etc). It’s important participants can join sessions and participate as a cohort. Therefore, timezones outside the above listed may not be suitable.

  • Possibly! We consider ocean impact businesses as those working either ‘for’ the ocean (that is: a business that is directly working to improve ocean health by addressing a key challenge or threat) or ‘from’ the ocean (that is: a business that is sustainably utilising the ocean for eg. food, health products, energy, transportation, climate change solutions). Please contact us if you are still unsure.

  • Unfortunately not. This program is focused on profit-making corporations, or for founders that are about to incorporate.

  • No, we are happy to receive applications from solo founders.

  • We are only evaluating founders that are working full-time in their business. Watch this space for 2025 programs that will support founders at earlier stages of growth!

  • Yes, the program comes with equity investment of ~$100,000AUD.

  • All early-stage startups are the focus of this program. We get you started on the road to high growth, including connections to customers, capital, and international markets.

SCALE YOUR IMPACT