Invented by Ocean Hub Africasupported by the GIZ Spark program* and Opening, Blue Venture Builder will provide participants with access to resources, technical experts, potential investors and corporate partners during a four-month period, which will begin with an in-person week at a location in southern Africa.
The initial cohort will be open to applicants from Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania, especially those focusing on relevant blue economy sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries, maritime transport and ocean energy.
These areas align with the core values ββof the initiative’s founders in the GIZ Spark program, which supports African innovation and investment ecosystems. As Bernhard Moreer, Head of Ocean Impacts at GIZ Namibia, reflects: βThe potential for impact innovation along Africa’s coastline is huge. We are excited to play our part in helping entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers and other innovators transform ocean assets into a sustainable future.β
Meanwhile, OHA supports, connects and invests in visionary entrepreneurs across Africa whose businesses focus on positive ocean impact and the blue economy.
As Alexis Grosskopf, CEO of OHA observes: βThe venture builder is an amazing opportunity to complete the effort to create the Ocean Hub Africa ecosystem that started a few years ago, now with the support of GIZ and Hatch. Supporting the idea of ββdeveloping coastal adaptation and resilience technologies in Africa, unleashing the true power of technology for good for the underserved in the blue economy. I can’t wait to see the applications coming in – calling on all the brightest good souls out there to apply now!β
14 innovation studios and counting…
Hatch is a capital and startup accelerator working to revolutionize the way seafood is produced by investing in technology development. They have deep experience, having run 14 international innovation studios, with a focus on aquaculture, seafood and the wider blue economy.
βBuilding a scalable investment venture requires so many key ingredients with human capital being a major driver of success. This Blue Venture Builder Africa initiative seeks to leverage the diverse knowledge and expertise of talent in the region in order to create and build sustainable successful businesses in the blue economy. I am excited to find and work with the next generation of African blue-chip talent during this initiative,β reflects Wayne Murphy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Hatch.
“To be clear, we are looking for a diverse group of candidates from all backgrounds, experience, industries, knowledge and skills, but with one common goal: the search for a scalable and effective solution to the blue economy and difference,” he adds. .
Successful candidates will go through a three-phase program. After the initial 10-day bootcamp from May 1-10, 2024, there will be a two-month remote validation stage. after which up to five teams β based on their market potential, team quality and initial traction β will be selected to pitch to investors for funding.
Applications
The application process is open until March 29 and the The information bridge for potential applicants is here. For more questions contact wayne@hatch.blue
*The program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).