Ocean Challenge: Boost

The Ocean Challenge: Boost was launched in 2024 - and was designed to help our program alumni reach near-term milestones for their startup.

Learn more about the program

2026

  • Developing high-performance protective coatings and adhesives for anti-corrosive applications in the marine industry and beyond.

    Learn more about A2O Advanced Materials here.

  • Developing acoustic methods to remotely measure sound speed profiles in the ocean.

  • Developing seaweed-derived, bio-based plastic materials to replace single-use petro-plastics in research and healthcare environments.

    Learn more about BioLabMate.

  • Creating small, autonomous underwater robots that allow for low-impact observation of underwater wildlife and habitats.

    Learn more about Cuttlefish Robotics.

  • Developing autonomous technologies that enable large-area ocean surveys at a far lower cost than existing methods.

    Learn more about Deepwater Robotics.

  • Developing dual-use modular autonomous systems for persistent ocean monitoring, on-demand fishing support, and defence-grade secure data delivery — advancing sustainable fisheries and maritime awareness.

    Learn more about Devocean Inc.

  • Developing software that turns drones into simple, life-saving tools for first responders.

    Learn more about Eagle Eyes Search Inc.

  • Commercializing a patented, fish-friendly in-stream hydrokinetic turbine that delivers reliable, affordable tidal power while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs.

    Learn more about FlowMotion Hydrokinetic Inc.

  • Helping shipping operators and naval fleets manage the data essential for reducing fuel costs and optimizing maintenance and repairs to maximize the lifespan of their vessels.

    Learn more about GoFlek.

  • Developing underwater wireless communication systems that enable wireless image transmission with unprecedented reliability in the harshest ocean conditi

    Learn more about Marecomms Inc.

  • Transforming sustainable marine resources into medical-grade solutions for burns and wounds that heal gently and avoid plastic waste.

    Learn more about Miha Biotech.

  • Robotics and automation company focusing on transforming maritime inspection and maintenance, specializing in AI-enabled, remote-controlled robots that perform high-risk tasks on offshore vessels, including hull cleaning, corrosion assessment and structural inspections.

    Learn more about Nabik Automations Inc.

  • Making carbon-storing building insulation from seaweed and upcycled waste, giving builders the easiest way to reduce the upfront carbon emissions associated with their construction projects.

  • An insurtech solution providing real-time risk analysis in the maritime sector, enabling insurers to dynamically adjust premiums and reduce losses across supply chains.

    Learn more about SoraRisk.

  • Developing a subsea glider for ocean research that is more affordable and accessible for small researchers doing more coastal or inshore research.

2025

  • Developing an underwater plane that precisely controls the depth of commercial fishing nets, preventing contact with the seabed and helping fishermen improve profitability.

    Learn more about Aquarius Fishing Technologies Inc. here.

  • Developing acoustic methods to remotely measure sound speed profiles in the ocean.

    Learn more about Atlantic Echo Solutions here.

  • Producing biodegradable labware from seaweed bioplastics to reduce plastic waste in labs and healthcare settings.

    Learn more about BioLabMate Composite Inc. here.

  • Developing the Dynamic Air Cushion Vehicle (DACV), a marine vessel that significantly reduces the environmental impact of marine transportation while delivering faster, smoother and more efficient travel.

    Learn more about Celerity Craft Inc. here.

  • Cytochrome develops and scales-up ocean-based reactor systems that capture and permanently store CO2 in a highly cost-effective way.

    Learn more about Cytochrome here.

  • Building a fleet of long-range and low-cost autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that will travel the ocean for months at a time to complete a variety of survey missions across the globe.

    Learn more about Deepwater Robotics here.

  • Develops computer vision software that enhances (semi-)autonomous UAVs with real-time aerial surveillance capabilities for public safety and wide-area ocean monitoring, providing actionable insights and efficient decision-making.

    Learn more about Eagle Eyes Search Inc. here.

  • Building an autonomous ROV designed to clean ship hulls using cavitation jet technology while collecting fouling debris to prevent environmental contamination, all integrated with AI-driven sensors for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the global biofouling problem.

    Learn more about EcoMarine Technologies Inc here.

  • Addressing climate change through material design and product innovation.

    Learn more about Kelp Island Inc. here.

  • Engineering a new type of bandage using seaweed that provides effective cooling treatment and painless removal for burns.

    Learn more about Miha Biotech here.

  • Delivering turnkey automated solutions for seafloor resource and biomass assessments using marine robotics and artificial intelligence.

    Learn more about Ocean Riot here.

  • Empowering marine decision-making through real-time AI object detection, supporting sustainable oceans.

    Learn more about Ocean AID here.

  • Developing a standardized, modular solar energy system that rapidly installs on shipping containers, trucks, and railcars to create mobile solar farms, providing renewable energy for transportation and logistics sectors, while also enabling islanded microgrids for ports, depots, and remote operations, reducing fossil fuel dependency and supporting energy autonomy across marine, rail, and heavy-duty trucking applications.

    Learn more about REPWR here.

  • Developing biodegradable acoustic panels from local seaweed by rethinking our relationship to materials and their origins.

    Learn more about Seacork Studios here.

  • Building the seaweed industry in North America by improving the areas that are severely lacking: access to seaweed processing and testing - to create a range of stabilized liquid and solid products for the food, agriculture, and chemical industry use.

    Learn more about Spoitz Enterprises Inc. here.

  • Pioneering sustainable performance fibers by transforming organic bio-waste into a high-performance spandex alternative through advanced bacterial fermentation.

    Learn more about Tydra Labs (Fibr.Bio) here.

2024

  • A modular runway system for remote and northern communities made from recyclable materials

    Received funding from Boost to Integrate scale into mobile recycling solution

    Learn more about ASL Energy here.

  • Replacing single-use plastic waste from research labs and medical facilities, using ocean-based materials for a greener future

    Received funding from Boost to conduct research and lab-scale testing of MVP at the Verschuren Centre

    Learn more about BioLabMate here.

  • Blue Lion Labs is developing a system to automatically identity and count different types of algae in your water through the power of Artificial Intelligence and unique data collection. Through revolutionary technology built based on established research at the University of Waterloo, Blue Lion Labs aims to change the way we protect our water globally forever.

    Received funding from Boost to advance MVP development

    Learn more about Blue Lion Labs here.

  • Shipborne Data Acquisition system for Arctic Autonomous Shipping

    Received funding from Boost to integrate new equipment into Ice Cube product to enable demonstration with key potential customers

  • A novel EI spectroscopy based sensor with efficient ocean sensing capabilities

    Received funding from Boost to Integrate high-performance mass flow controllers into latest version of prototype to help achieve DOE spec requirements for technology

    Learn more about Integrative Nanotechnologies here.

  • Developing a seaweed-based wound dressing solution that improves the healing process and reduces subsequent scarring

    Received funding from Boost to develop and test initial prototype and use insights to inform future patent application and IP strategy

    Learn more about Miha Biotech here.

  • A digital twin-driven system for real-time monitoring of the hazardous gases in marine operations

    Received funding from Boost to purchase equipment for further development of MVP 3.0, and initiate patent application process with legal firm

    Learn more about Nditive3D here.

  • Harnessing the power of sonar with AI to create an Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) system for detecting underwater objects in real-time.

    Received funding from Boost to collect additional sonar data to augment training datasets and scale AI models to detect more ocean objects, and commercialize first product using combination of in-house software and off-the-shelf hardware

    Learn more about Ocean AID here.

  • Developing biodegradable and non-toxic bioplastic from seaweed, grown in partnership with Indigenous Nations in British Columbia.

    Received funding from Boost to Initiate pilot project to map Sargassum hotspot in collaboration with First Nations and technology partners, and begin development and testing to determine prototype composition with new species.

    Learn more about PhyCo here.

  • qualiTEAS is a corrosion inspection and management company. Our vibrant material research team has expertise ranging from material science to programming. Our proactive chemical approach towards corrosion inspection identifies the specific type and degree of corrosion. Our services also include additional environmental analysis (chemical and microbial analysis of soil and water), which provides information on the origin and further impacts of (due to) any ongoing corrosion issue.

    Received funding from Boost to hire a business development subcontractor to identify and initiate conversations with potential customers in the Canadian market

    Learn more about qualiTEAS here.

  • Rising Tide BioAcoustics (Dartmouth, NS) provides acoustic systems for fish deterrence, guidance and attraction, marine mammal deterrence, and control/eradication of invasive species.

    Received funding from Boost to develop simulation of cruise ship generator noises to model the performance of underwater noise cancellation and collect data for future pilot project

    Learn more about Rising Tide BioAcoustics here.

  • Developing a technology to avoid trawler seabed scraping and reduce fuel consumption in the fishery industry

    Received funding from Boost to confirm selection of MVP components and begin purchasing key equipment