Ocean Startup Project Welcomes V1 Studio as Newest Partner
MONTRÉAL, QC (September 9, 2025)—The Ocean Startup Project (OSP) is proud to announce Montreal-based V1 Studio as an official partner, further strengthening the national effort to support Canada’s emerging ocean technology entrepreneurs.
V1 Studio, a non-profit founded by Concordia University, is dedicated to empowering researchers to explore entrepreneurship and transform their ideas into real-world impact. With hands-on training, professional development programs, and access to research facilities and grants, V1 Studio helps bridge the gap between academic research and startup creation.
As part of this new partnership, V1 Studio will join the Ocean Startup Project Steering Committee, contributing its expertise to help guide the strategic direction of OSP and ensure its programs continue to evolve in support of Canada’s next generation of ocean innovators. They join a roster of national partners, including Centre for Ocean Applied Technologies (COAST), Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic, Genesis, Invest Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), PEI BioAlliance, and Springboard Atlantic, that are collectively strengthening collaboration across Canada’s ocean innovation ecosystem.
“The addition of V1 Studio to the Ocean Startup Project Steering Committee strengthens our ability to guide the future of ocean innovation in Canada,” said Jeff White, CEO of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) and Chair of the Ocean Startup Project Steering Committee. “Their expertise in empowering researchers and fostering entrepreneurship will help us inspire and support the next wave of entrepreneurs tackling global ocean challenges."
“We are thrilled to be joining the Ocean Startup Project Steering Committee; We understand the importance of helping researchers explore opportunities to have a concrete impact in ocean innovation, and are proud to be a partner in supporting that initiative in Quebec.” said Diana Horqque, V1 Studio’s Executive Director.
Together, the Ocean Startup Project and V1 Studio will help entrepreneurs access the expertise, resources, and networks they need to accelerate growth and create global impact in the ocean economy.
About the Ocean Startup Project
The Ocean Startup Project is advancing Canada as a global leader for ocean entrepreneurs, driving innovation across the ocean economy. Our mission is to transform Canada into a thriving hub for ocean startups, from inception to global market reach. Through partnerships with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and regional organizations including Centre for Ocean Applied Technologies (COAST), Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Genesis, Invest Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), PEI BioAlliance, Springboard Atlantic, and V1 Studio we strengthen Canada’s ocean-focused innovation ecosystem. Recognized by Startup Genome as one of the top 5 accelerators in North America and top 10 globally in the Blue Economy sector, we are accelerating the success of ocean startups and positioning Canada at the forefront of the global blue economy.
About V1 Studio
V1 Studio's mission is for all researchers in Canada to have a touchpoint with entrepreneurship. The NPO, founded by Concordia University, empowers researchers, offering hands-on training and professional development programs, as well as access to research facilities and grants that support the entrepreneurial and start-up journey of researchers. V1 Studio collaborates with universities and incubators across Quebec and Canada to deploy its programs targeted at graduate-level researchers. V1 programs fill the gap for academic research to impact society through entrepreneurial exploration and startup creation.