CANADA (Wednesday, June 10, 2026) — Applications are officially open for the 2026 Ocean Startup Challenge, inviting early-stage Canadian ocean technology startups to compete for funding, mentorship and national support to help bring their solutions closer to market.

Up to $25,000 in non-dilutive, non-repayable funding will be awarded to as many as 15 early-stage startups, along with ocean-specific programming and access to a coast-to-coast network of mentors, industry experts and ocean innovation partners.

We hear about ocean health all of the time—rising sea levels, microplastics, pollution and debris—but what does cleaning the ocean actually involve? Ocean AID, supported by the Ocean Startup Project, is leading the way in turning these big ideas into real action, by tackling one of the ocean's most stubborn and costly problems: removing ghost gear. 

The Ocean Startup Project is proud to announce the 16 innovative companies selected as part of the 2024 Ocean Startup Challenge cohort. Each startup will receive up to $25,000 in non-dilutive funding, as well as a comprehensive support package to accelerate the growth of their ocean-focused solutions.

This year, the Ocean Startup Challenge attracted 56 applications from across Canada, with many emerging companies submitting their first application to break into the ocean startup scene.

The chosen startups span various sectors of the blue economy, including sustainable seafood, renewable ocean energy, autonomous vessels, and marine biotechnology. Notably, there was a surge in seaweed-related innovations, which reflects the growing interest in sustainable ocean solutions and the diverse opportunities within the blue economy.

(Montreal) Today, at the second annual Oceanfest event at Startup Fest, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) alongside project partners announced Phase 3 of the Ocean Startup Project. With a total project value of $8,020,000, the OSC is providing $5 million in funding, with $2.0 million in funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), $450 thousand from Mitacs and the balance coming from industry partners.

In 2020, the OSC announced its first innovation ecosystem project called the Ocean Startup Project, bringing together regional incubators and accelerators across Atlantic Canada to work together collectively for the first time to inspire, initiate, and invest in new and early-stage ocean companies. Now pan-Canadian in focus, the Ocean Startup Project has helped more than 155 new ocean ventures become established and just four years after being announced, was named a top accelerator in North America by Startup Genome’s global report on the strongest startup ecosystems in the blue economy for 2023.

We are looking for experienced entrepreneurs excited about supporting and accelerating early-stage ocean tech startups as Executive in Residence (EIR) of our Ocean Startup Challenge.

Are you ready to make waves in ocean sustainability and innovation? We’re excited to announce that applications for the Ocean Idea Challenge are now open until the end of day on June 9! This is your chance to explore groundbreaking ideas, undergo a transformative customer discovery journey, and potentially secure funding to bring your vision to life.

The Ocean Startup Project is delighted to announce Dr. Paula Mendonça as its new Executive Director. Dr. Mendonça’s appointment marks a significant stride towards fostering innovative, sustainable solutions and building a robust ocean startup ecosystem in Canada, while advancing the country’s role in the global Blue Economy.