OceanHub Africa, the continent’s foremost facilitator of ocean-impact entrepreneurship, is thrilled to unveil the fifth instalment of its eight-month acceleration program. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to empower up to fifteen of Africa’s most innovative and impact-focused for-profit startups, all of which share a common goal: the preservation and restoration of our oceans’ health.
At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to cultivating ventures that harmonize environmental sustainability with profitability. Our acceleration program is engineered to counteract challenges such as global warming, overexploitation, and pollution, which plague our oceans. By harnessing our broad network of stakeholders and experts, we deliver a unique hybrid program. This initiative not only aims at uncovering sustainable business models that promise stable returns on investment (ROIs) but also at unlocking opportunities for scalable growth throughout Africa.
Program Highlights and Opportunities
- Comprehensive Service Package: Beneficiaries can expect up to $75k in AWS cloud services, and over $40k in mechanical engineering design software licenses from 3DExperience Lab, alongside access to tools and support from Dassault Systèmes, Amazon Web Services, Hubspot, and Notion Premium. Legal advisory sessions worth up to $50k with leading multinational law firms and advisory sessions with industry giants are also part of the package.
- Invaluable Mentorship & Support: The program includes an immersive in-person training boot camp, personalized business skills and development coaching, extensive sales, product development, communication, and business development support, and access to a vast network of experts in various fields.
- Expansive Network Access: Participants will enjoy networking opportunities, including a presence at the Ocean Innovation Africa annual summit, connections with potential clients for expansion, and partnerships with key external stakeholders.
- Robust Fund-Raising Support: Potential funding opportunities of up to $10k, assistance with investor pitches, deal structuring, and access to a wide range of impact investors and venture capitalist funds.
Eligibility and Application Process
Startups focused on making a positive impact on the oceans, operating in Africa, with scalable innovations seeking investments or market expansion, are encouraged to apply. The selection process evaluates the environmental/social impact, business model, technology innovation, team composition, and overall focus and ambition.
Key Dates to Remember:
- Application Period: 23 March – 5 May
- Online Q&A Sessions: 11 April & 22 April
- Screening and Selection: 7 April- 19 May to 13 June
- Program Start: 4 July for 8 months, culminating in an in-person Bootcamp and graduation at the Ocean Innovation Africa Summit.
For those ready to make waves in ocean conservation while scaling their startups, the deadline to apply is May 5, 2024. Dive into this unique opportunity by applying through OceanHub Africa’s website at www.oceanhub.africa. Together, let’s navigate towards a sustainable and profitable future for our oceans.