The global Blue Economy presents a massive $6+ trillion opportunity, yet BlueTech innovators face unique challenges. Navigating the 'Valley of Death' is particularly daunting, especially given the harsh and expensive nature of working in and on water. To address these challenges and foster entrepreneurship, we established Blue Innovation Labs, a collaborative hub for the entire BlueTech ecosystem. Here, startups, established companies, academia, NGOs, and government agencies can connect, access resources, get their technology in the water, and advance progress.
For high-growth startups, we offer the BLUE Incubator Program. This intensive program provides bespoke mentorship, access to funding, and dedicated experienced support to accelerate their journey from catalyst to commercialization. By fostering a diverse and inclusive ecosystem, empowering Female, Black, and Brown entrepreneurs, and supporting transitioning Veterans, we are driving innovation and creating a more equitable and sustainable future for the Blue Economy.
In Summary:
- Blue Innovation Labs is developing an ocean access collaborative facility for the entire BlueTech community.
- Blue Incubator is a bespoke program within the Labs exclusively for startups (learn more).
Thank you to our Sponsors!
FrankenBuild Ventures
Funding Hardware-Centric Sustainable Solutions in Extreme Environments
New Series Start Date - March 5th, 2025
Women In BlueTech
Our Women in BlueTech Speaker Series is a now a cross-Atlantic partnership between TOOL: The Ocean Opportunity Lab (from Oslo) and Blue Innovation Labs. Join us each quarter starting on Wednesday March 5th 2025 at 10:00 AM EST for a virtual event celebrating and empowering women in BlueTech.
Harmony Desalting developing novel desalination technology
Pilot on Boston Harbor
Founder Quantum Wei (on right) and some of the Massachusetts based Harmony Desalting Team showing their prototype being piloted at the historic Fitzgerald Shipyard, home to Blue Innovation Labs
Can desalination quench agriculture's thirst?
Learn more about Harmony Desalting and another upcoming pilot to address salty groundwater.
MassVentures visit
MassVentures visit
Team Harmony Desalting seen here with Priya Yadav from MassVentures, an early investor in this impactful and potentially game changing technology for water.
Congratulations to 13 Mari and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines!
(Conceptual diagram of an composite element by 13 Mari)
InnovateMass/MassCEC funds testing
13 Mari of the Blue Incubator and the BX2 Cohort, received funding through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's InnovationMass program to prototype and pilot. Here in September 2024, 13 Mari Founder & CEO Krassi Fotev gives a reporting tour to the MassCEC Team. The InnovateMass funded pilot produced significant validation data.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines invests in 13 Mari
From left: MOL Dry Bulk Business Strategy Division General Manager Shinichi Asahina; 13 Mari Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Gaston Petrocelli; MOL Deputy Vice President Hirofumi Kamata; and 13 Mari Founder and Chief Executive Officer Krassimir Fotev
The ripple-shaped Flowsmart element developed by 13 Mari uses technology, which has been incorporated into the shape of aircraft wings and as aero parts for automobiles, and it is based on the concept of controlling the flow of water near the hull to reduce drag and bring out the original performance of the vessel. The company aims to improve the fuel efficiency of vessels and achieve stable navigation.
BLUEiQ whale protection work highlighted in the Boston Globe
BLUEiQ was interviewed recently by the Boston Globe for their work building tools to use sound to help map the ocean and to save whales! Read the Boston Globe article here.
BLUEiQ, a women-owned business (WOB), creates multi-use passive acoustic sensing solutions to protect biodiversity, reduce effects of anthropogenic noise on marine life, and enhance ocean safety and security.
Creek Tides Energy and Power collaborates with University of Alaska at Fairbanks and SouthWest Research Institute for a $1.5 million marine energy research grant.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $1.5 million to two University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Center for Energy and Power projects to advance marine energy research and education.
with an award of $1 million, aims to advance a reactive reversible blade turbine, or RRBT. ACEP and its partners at Creek Tides Energy and Power and the Southwest Research Institute will develop and test the turbine at UAF’s Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site in Nenana.
“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with the private sector to develop a technology specifically for operating in frozen rivers and generating small scale electricity for off-grid applications in remote Alaska,” said Ben Loeffler, Pacific Marine Energy Center co-director at ACEP and the principal investigator of the project.
Full UAF press release here.
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scots underwater robotics pioneer.
More HonuWorx News:
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scots underwater robotics pioneer. A Scottish underwater robotics firm has received a seven-figure investment into its plans to revolutionize operations in the energy and security sectors. HonuWorx, based in Aberdeen, plans to dramatically slash costs and emissions for offshore repair and inspection work through its fleet of autonomous, all-electric submarines.
Blue Innovation Labs
- Focus: An ocean access physical space and ecosystem that supports the entire BlueTech community.
- Eligibility: Open to a wide range of entities, including startups, established companies, academia, government agencies, NGOs, and service providers.
- Services:
- Coworking spaces
- Wet and dry labs
- Access to ocean resources
- Networking events
- Community building
- Resource platform
- Key Feature: A collaborative and inclusive environment for the entire BlueTech ecosystem.
Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR)
Meet Dr. Cvic Innocent, Blue Innovation Labs's inaugural EiR.
Dr. C Innocent’s career is the development of innovations across the deep-tech, sustainability & De-Fi sectors, and so she draws upon her experience as an investor, a serial-entrepreneur/founder, and as a former researcher to support startups and small businesses through venture capital. Learn more about Dr. Innocent here
Leveraging Boston's innovation ecosystem, BLUE on Boston Harbor will establish a vibrant ocean access campus as an international landing hub, accelerating sustainable Blue Economy growth:
- Phase 1: A dedicated waterfront home for the Blue Institute, expanding the nonprofit's capacity to drive climate entrepreneurship, education, research, and workforce development.
- Phase 2: A state-of-the-art facility for Blue Innovation Labs, 40+ companies and the Incubator program (next cohort applications open late August 2025) fostering BlueTech collaboration among a growing consortium of Boston Harbor stakeholders, national and international partnerships.
Learn more about the people and programs behind this initiative, and how to participate.
Blue Innovation Labs for a healthy and secure Blue Planet
Affiliations, Collaborations, Partners, and Sponsors
Architectural Renderings By
