Meet our Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR), Dr. Cvic Innocent
Dr. Cvic Innocent, BLUE'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 the BLUE Incubator 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.
BLUE on Boston Harbor - a home for BlueTech innovators
Brick & mortar home for the one to three year bespoke program BLUE Incubator
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
BLUE Incubator
BLUE Incubator was established in 2017 and with the pandemic pivoted to a virtual program helping over 26 disparate and diverse startups stay connected, informed, and introduced to capital, expert advisors, piloting, prototyping, and wrap around services.
- Startups have raised > $13,750,000.00
- 80 Jobs Created
- 6 Female and 11 Founders of Color
- 8 Massachusetts startups
- 7 startups from other US States
- 12 International startups
- DOE American Made Network Connector
- DOD, DOE Teamer, NASA, SBIR, STTR
- Brick and mortar program with hybrid links
- Wrap around business services
- Industry experts and guest speakers
- Soft Landing for international startups
- ecosystem introductions and matching
- Regional, national and international networks
- Access to capital via angel investors, impact investors, VCs
- For 2024 Hybrid with virtual and pop-up programming
- Entrepreneur in Residence
- Dual Use Magnet
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
U.S. Department of Energy
American Made Network
Since 2022 the entrepreneurial programs BLUE Incubator at Blue Innovation Labs and the BLUE Excelerator at Blue Institute are proud to be named "Connectors" in the US Department of Energy's American Made Network .
The American-Made Network is fueling America’s innovation engine. Members of public and private sectors provide mentoring, tools, resources, and support to accelerate the transition of ideas into real-world solutions for environmental justice and economic renewal.
Brick and mortar home for 501c3 Blue Institute's existing programs and those in development
National Network Affiliates. The BLUE Incubator & BLUE Excelerator (virtual) programs are Connectors
Brick and mortar home for 501c3 Blue Institute's existing programs and those in development
- BLUE Excelerator BX5
BLUE Excelerator is a virtual three month "Advanced Topics" accelerator focusing in on the design, development, and funding of pilots & prototypes. The program is offered by the Blue Institute, Inc. a Massachusetts based nonprofit 501C3 .
- 2021 1st ClimateTech Cohort, BX1 graduates 12 startups
- 2022 2nd ClimateTech Cohort, BX2 graduates 9 startups
- 2023 3rd ClimateTech Cohort, BX3 graduates 10 startups
- 2024 4th ClimateTech Cohort has 10 startups
- 32 Expert Speakers
- 50 Industry Mentors
- 14 Female Founders
- 15 Founders of Color
- 9 from Massachusetts
- 14 from other US States
- 17 International
- BX4 Demo Day June 7th, 2024
- *BX5 Applications open October 1, 2024
BLUEX Bridge
(in development)
- Bridge over "Valley of Death"
- Novel in-person 9 month open-innovation technology readiness level TRL catalyst
- Dual Use Magnet
- Next level Team & Business development
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) advancement
- Access to domain experts, funding vehicles, facility offerings, BlueTech Cluster ecosystem
BLUE Peer to Pier Program
(in development)
- STEM Experiential Learning
- Student and workforce internships, apprenticeships, and career shadowing opportunities
- Connecting community to climate innovation.
Launch Crew for BLUE on Boston Harbor
Judith Underwood
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Judith Underwood
CEO & Co-Founder
Blue Innovation Labs
BlueTech Cluster Development
Blue Economy Expert
Judith Underwood is a social impact entrepreneur, educator, and environmentalist. She believes strongly in "innovation through collaboration,” and has 25+ years of scientific development & technology transfer experience at institutions including MIT, the
CEO & Co-Founder
Blue Innovation Labs
BlueTech Cluster Development
Blue Economy Expert
Judith Underwood is a social impact entrepreneur, educator, and environmentalist. She believes strongly in "innovation through collaboration,” and has 25+ years of scientific development & technology transfer experience at institutions including MIT, the United Nations, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. Judith co-founded Blue Innovation Labs in 2017 to scale BlueTech startups through the BLUE Incubator program, and to create the first US eastern seaboard waterfront innovation, education and workforce training hub, BLUE on Boston Harbor.
Judith is the Founder and President of Blue Institute, Inc. and currently volunteers leading the BLUE Excelerator at the Blue Institute, which since 2020 has graduated 40 Climate Tech startups. Judith holds an MA from NYU, a BA from UMass Boston.
Omer Poroy
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Judith Underwood
Chief Industry Liaison
Blue Innovation Labs
Market Dynamics & Strategy
Undersea Emerging Tech
Omer is a seasoned business leader with a deep passion for driving profitable growth through data-driven strategies, empowerment, and unwavering commitment to excellence in execution. With a visionary mindset, he excels at navigating the ever-evolv
Chief Industry Liaison
Blue Innovation Labs
Market Dynamics & Strategy
Undersea Emerging Tech
Omer is a seasoned business leader with a deep passion for driving profitable growth through data-driven strategies, empowerment, and unwavering commitment to excellence in execution. With a visionary mindset, he excels at navigating the ever-evolving intersection of emerging technologies and shifting market dynamics. Omer brings a wealth of expertise in autonomy, robotics, sensors, systems engineering, and manufactured products, garnered through a diverse career spanning startups to Fortune 500 companies, including successful turn-around experiences in both commercial and defense sectors on a global scale.
Omer has an MS in Ocean Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Entrepreneur in Residence
Blue Innovation Labs
Hardtech, Finance
Emerging Fund Founder
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 busi
Entrepreneur in Residence
Blue Innovation Labs
Hardtech, Finance
Emerging Fund Founder
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. As the GP for Frankenbuild Ventures – a VC firm focused on supporting climate hardtech – she brings unique insight in evaluating both the viability of technologies as well as market readiness for innovative technologies. Cvic’s PhD is from Cornell University, a Postdoc from Oxford University, she was research faculty at Harvard Medical School, and in 2019 Cvic was the recipient of a Chan-Zuckerberg Innovation Award.
Charles Weidhas
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Dr. Cvic Innocent
Chief Operations Advisor
Blue Innovation Labs
Global Executive,
Chemical Engineer, MBA
Charlie is a retired C Suite executive with 40 years of business experience in a variety of domestic and international markets. Charlie dedicates his time supporting emerging companies like Blue Innovation Labs through his work as the Score Program Leader
Chief Operations Advisor
Blue Innovation Labs
Global Executive,
Chemical Engineer, MBA
Charlie is a retired C Suite executive with 40 years of business experience in a variety of domestic and international markets. Charlie dedicates his time supporting emerging companies like Blue Innovation Labs through his work as the Score Program Leader in Portland, Maine, mentoring Climate Tech startups in the BLUE Excelerator at the Blue Institute, mentoring for Northeastern University Chemical Engineering students, and at the Roux Institute in their Founders (Start-ups) Program. Charlie holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Northeastern University, where he also serves on the Chemical Engineering Department’s Industrial Advisory Board.
Senior Strategic Advisors for BLUE on Boston Harbor
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
•Senior Vice President,
Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.,
•DTRA A&AS Operations Division
Robyn Hannigan, Ph.D.
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
•President, Ursinus College
•Academic, Inventor, Entrepreneur
Erica Hansen
RDML David Duryea USN (Ret.)
Sophia Kambanis
•Director, Program Mgmt— ML & Architecture @ SIMA.AI:
•AI, ML, IoT, Computer Vision & Robotics Engineering/ Product Leadership
Sophia Kambanis
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
Sophia Kambanis
•Executive Director Massachusetts Innovation Network
•Scaling, Finance, Bio Tech and Deep Tech
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
•Founder and Principal of Blue Native Consulting
•New and Emerging Critical Technologies
Katie Stebbins
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
RADM John Neagley USN (Ret.)
•ED Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute (FNII),
Tufts University
•Domestic and International Tech and Innovation Leader
Affiliations, Collaborations, Partnerships
Fueling innovation for a healthy and secure Blue Planet
Submission Deadline Passed - Future events to be Announced
Blue Innovation Labs is thrilled to Partner with Maroon Invest Global!
Women's Catalytic Climate Fellowships are awarded to a venture and venture team, and not limited to one entrepreneur. Eligibility includes ventures with at least 50% of executive decision-making team and equity held by women
Fellowship is a hybrid program with physical bases in the UK (European Marine Science Park), USA (Boston, Miami, Houston), Caribbean ( Jamaica, St. Lucia); with potential for additional sites in Europe and Africa as relevant for the Fellowship venture.
Climate Innovation
A) Blue Economy - Marine BioTech solutions for Chronic Human Health conditions
B) Seaweed Value Chain
C) Built Environment: materials, health infrastructure, health impact
D) Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, to deliver Climate impact on health.
Fellowship part-time over 8 months starting AUGUST 2024 including:
~ 4-week Global R&D Innovation "Exchange Program" at 1-3 of Fellowship global sites
~ Direct Venture Building, Scaling, and Program Resources
~ Impact and Financial Milestones
~ Fellowship valued at $50k including capital and Exchange Program stipend