OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program 2021 for Innovative Ocean-Minded Startups

OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program 2021 is calling for applications. OceanHub Africa is launching the second cohort of its six-month online acceleration program to support up to six of Africa’s most promising impact-for-profit startups focused on preserving and restoring the health of the ocean.

The accelerator is on a mission to support ocean-minded start-ups with the express aim of nurturing an environmentally conscious and profitable economy that effectively mitigates the effects of global warming as well as the overexploitation and pollution of the oceans. Leveraging its highly qualified network of stakeholders and facilitators, it will deliver to the accelerated start-ups a program that seeks out sustainable pathways yielding stable profits (ROIs) and avenues for scalable growth throughout Africa.

Who can Apply for OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program

• Your start-up is ocean-minded: it has a direct or indirect positive impact on the oceans (addressing climate change, pollution or overexploitation of the ocean)
• You are for-profit and operate in Africa.
• You have a scalable service or product available on the market or soon to be available on the market.
• Your product or service is clearly innovative and/, or your business model is disruptive.
• You are looking for investments or new markets.

Benefits of OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program

• Service Package
  • Up to $25k worth of cloud service.
  • Free access to IoT prototyping.
  • Over $40k worth of mechanical engineering design software licences for prototyping and virtual testing.
  • Access to Dassault Systèmes, Amazon Web Services and SigFox international marketplaces and/or salesforce for finished products of accelerated startups.
  • but also advisory sessions with Cullinans & Associates (international environmental law firm), BVPG (commercial and transactional law), Blue Oceans Partners (ocean impact Venture Capitalist fund), Ocean14 Capital (ocean impact Private Equity fund), WWF-SA, Dept of the Oceanography University of Cape Town, EuroSIMA (cleantech experts) and more!
• Mentorship & Support
  • Hands-on mentorship from a team of mentors.
  • Tailored business skills and personal development 1 to 1 training.
  • Sales, administrative and HR support.
  • Access to a network of scientific, business, impact and investment experts from international corporations, foundations, universities and IGOs.
• 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 their international network of ocean-impact incubators/accelerators to scale overseas.
  • Access to key external partners.
• Fund-Raising Support
  • Support in preparing and running investor pitches, including training sessions with investors directly.
  • Support in structuring deals, including reviews by transactional and commercial lawyers.
  • Access to a large portfolio of impact investors part of their ecosystems (inc. Blue Ocean Partners, Ocean14 Capital, Finca Ventures, HAVAIC, Sky Ventures, AquaSpark, Fynd Ventures, Athelia) as well as corporate venture capitalist funds.

Selection Criteria for OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program

• Impact & vision
  • Positive impact on the oceans
  • Aligned vision with OceanHub Africa
• Business model
  • Market & traction
  • Commercial value
  • Strategy for growth & scalability
• Team
  • Expertise and background
  • Ambition and passion
• Technology
  • Innovation
  • Reliability
  • Adaptability
  • Scalability

OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program Application Method

Interested candidates who meet the criteria listed above should apply by clicking on the “Apply” button below:

Apply Here Learn More

The deadline for applications is March 5, 2021. Late applications will not be considered.