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 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 the overarching ecosystem, providing an ocean access collaborative facility for the entire BlueTech community.
- Blue Incubator is a specialized program within the Labs, offering intensive support and resources exclusively for startups (learn more).
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. She is CoFounder of Estate Protocol, a Partner in Build Ventures Africa, is the FinTech Investment Chair & on the Board of Directors for Erez Capital (a Boston-based VC firm, recent Yahoo!Finance news) and is the General Partner for Frankenbuild Ventures – a VC firm focused on founders building hardtech in extreme environments for sustainability. Here, she brings unique insight in evaluating both the viability of technologies as well as market readiness for innovative technologies, and so she is excited to serve as a part-time Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Blue Innovation Labs.
Previously, her history of supporting small business owners includes a 1-year role as Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce, as well as a long-lived and continued dedication to being a startup mentor in several startup accelerators (eg;- Harvard Innovation Labs, Techstars, MassChallenge, Gener8tor, etc...). As an EIR, Cvic is excited to lend her experience to founders looking to validate the potential impact of their promising scientific and engineering discoveries for the betterment of the ocean, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. Lastly, she has worked for NASA (2007-2009), was educated at Cornell University and Oxford University, was research faculty at Harvard Medical School, is a 2019 Chan-Zuckerberg Innovation Award Winner, and notes that the journey all started at Kingsborough Community College as a 1st generation US-born child of Haitian immigrants.
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 February 05 2025 at 10:00 AM EST for a virtual event celebrating and empowering women in BlueTech.
Congratulations BLUE Incubator Alumni - HonuWorx!
HonuWorx is chosen for the NATO Diana 2025 Cohort!
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.
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.
Leveraging Boston's innovation ecosystem, BLUE on Boston Harbor, a "Blue England Consortium" in formation, will establish a vibrant ocean access campus as an international landing spot, accelerating sustainable growth in the 'Blue England' region through collaborative innovation, education, research and workforce development in the Blue Economy featuring:
- Phase 1: A state-of-the-art facility for Blue Innovation Labs, fostering collaboration among a consortium of Boston Harbor and "Blue England" Regional stakeholders, and international partners.
- Phase 2: A dedicated waterfront home for the Blue Institute, expanding the nonprofit's capacity to drive education, research, and workforce development.
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
