Ocean Startup Project Names 2026 Boost Recipients Advancing Canadian Ocean Innovation

The Ocean Startup Project (OSP) has named the 2026 recipients of Boost, its follow-on funding program supporting alumni companies as they advance critical milestones toward commercialization.

This year’s cohort reflects the breadth of innovation emerging across Canada’s ocean economy, with ventures developing solutions in autonomous ocean surveying, underwater communications, seaweed-based materials, protective marine coatings, tidal power, maritime risk intelligence and medical innovation.

Selected through a competitive review process, the 2026 Boost recipients are tackling real-world challenges facing ocean industries and coastal communities, while building technologies with strong commercial and environmental potential.

“What makes this group exciting is not just the technology — it is the range of practical problems these founders are taking on and the clarity of their path forward,” said Paula Mendonça, Executive Director of the Ocean Startup Project. “This cohort reflects the kind of ocean innovation Canada needs more of: ambitious, applied and grounded in real-world use cases. Boost helps strong companies through a critical stage by supporting the next milestones to move them closer to market.”

The 2026 Boost recipients include:

• A2O Advanced Materials Inc. (British Columbia) — developing high-performance protective coatings and adhesives for anti-corrosive applications in the marine industry and beyond.

• Atlantic Echo Solutions (Newfoundland and Labrador) — developing acoustic methods to remotely measure sound speed profiles in the ocean.

• BioLabMate (Newfoundland and Labrador) — developing seaweed-derived, bio-based plastic materials to replace single-use petro-plastics in research and healthcare environments.

• Cuttlefish Robotics (Ontario) — creating small, autonomous underwater robots that allow for low-impact observation of underwater wildlife and habitats.

• Deepwater Robotics (Ontario) — developing autonomous technologies that enable large-area ocean surveys at a far lower cost than existing methods.

• Devocean Inc. (Quebec) — 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.

• Eagle Eyes Search Inc. (British Columbia) — developing software that turns drones into simple, life-saving tools for first responders.

• FlowMotion Hydrokinetic Inc. (Ontario) — commercializing a patented, fish-friendly in-stream hydrokinetic turbine that delivers reliable, affordable tidal power while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs.

• GoFlek (formerly Pure Ocean AI) (Quebec) — 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.

• Marecomms Inc. (Nova Scotia) — developing underwater wireless communication systems that enable wireless image transmission with unprecedented reliability in the harshest ocean conditions.

• Miha Biotech (British Columbia/Quebec) — transforming sustainable marine resources into medical-grade solutions for burns and wounds that heal gently and avoid plastic waste.

• Nabik Automations Inc. (Ontario) — 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.

• SeaFoam (British Columbia) — 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.

• SoraRisk (Quebec) — an insurtech solution providing real-time risk analysis in the maritime sector, enabling insurers to dynamically adjust premiums and reduce losses across supply chains.

• SURF Robotics / Waterlogged Robotics (Nova Scotia) — developing a subsea glider for ocean research that is more affordable and accessible for small researchers doing more coastal or inshore research.

Through Boost, OSP continues to support founders building scalable ocean solutions with the potential to strengthen industries, support communities and contribute to a more sustainable and competitive ocean economy.

For more information about Ocean Challenge: Boost, visit oceanstartupproject.ca/boost.