Application for OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program is currently open. Calling for innovative ocean-minded startups OceanHub Africa, Africa’s leading enabler of ocean-impact entrepreneurship, is excited to announce the launch of the fifth cohort of its eight-month acceleration program. This initiative aims to support up to fifteen of Africa’s most promising impact-driven for-profit startups dedicated to preserving and restoring the health of the ocean.
What you can expect
Joining the OceanHub Africa portfolio offers you:
- Access to a network of leading ocean experts, mentors (entrepreneurs, investors, innovation experts, impact experts, scientists, lawyers, etc.), impact investors, and potential clients.
- Hands-on support to accelerate your growth, including customer acquisition, executing your first Proof of Concept, and scaling your business through commercial contracts and fundraising.
- Engagement with like-minded entrepreneurs within the Blue Economy space.
OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program Benefits
- Service Package
- Up to $75k worth of cloud service through our partner AWS Activate.
- Over $40k worth of mechanical engineering design software licences for prototyping and virtual testing, courtesy to our partner 3DExperience Lab.
- Access to Dassault Systèmes, Amazon Web Services, Hubspot support, and Notion Premium.
- Legal advisory sessions with Sidley Austin, Bowmans, and Lex Mundi (multinational law firms) based on your targeted market, valued at up to $50k.
- Advisory sessions with: Mercator Ocean International, Blue Oceans Partners, Ocean14 Capital, WWF-SA, Dept. of Oceanography University of Cape Town, EuroSIMA, and more!
- Mentorship & Support
- Participation in an in-person bootcamp.
- Tailored business skills and personal development 1-1 coaching.
- Sales, Product Development, Communication, and Business Development Support.
- Access to our network of scientific, business, impact, and investment experts from international corporations, foundations, universitites, and intergovernmental organisations.
- Network
- Access to networking events and conferences, including a stand and stage time at the Ocean Innovation Africa annual summit
- Access to potential clients (market leads) for local and international expansion
- Access to our international network of ocean-impact incubators/accelerators to scale overseas
- Access to key external partners
- Fund-Raising Support
- Potential funding of up to 10k USD.
- Support in preparing and conducting investor pitches, including training sessions with partner investors directly
- Assistance in structuring deals, including reviews by transactional and commercial lawyers
- Access to a diverse portfolio of impact investors and corporate venture capitalist funds
Note: Our program will operate in a hybrid format, combining one-week in-person bootcamp sessions, in-person participation in the annual Ocean Innovation Africa Summit, and remote sessions using online tools and communication methods.
Eligibility criteria
- Your startup is ocean-minded, having a direct or indirect positive impact on the oceans (addressing climate change, pollution, or overexploitation).
- You are a for-profit entity operating in Africa.
- You offer a scalable service or product either on the market or soon to be launched.
- Your product/service demonstrates innovation and/or your business model is disruptive.
- You are seeking investments or exploring new markets.
OceanHub Africa Acceleration Selection Criteria
- Impact & Vision
- Positive Impact on the ocean
- Aligned vision with OceanHub Africa
- Business Model
- Market & Traction
- Commercial Value
- Strategy for growth & scalability
- Team
- Expertise & Background
- Ambition & Passion
- Technology
- IP Owned
- Reliability
- Innovation
- Adaptability & Scalability
How to Apply
Click Here to Apply
Deadlne: 5th May 2024