Seaahead, a female, minority, and veteran-owned bluetech innovation leader, was founded with the understanding that to serve coastal communities impacted by the dual threats of climate change and…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $249,299 Cooperative Agreement under the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) federal grant program (CFDA 11.012) to Seaahead, Inc. The award will fund a 21-month project to: 1) strengthen Seaahead's core functions, programs, and partnerships; 2) translate ocean climate resilience needs for U.S. deep tech leadership; 3) bridge the commercialization gap for ocean startups; and 4) expand diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the bluetech sector. The project aims to scale Seaahead's operations, grow its partner network, and expand programs to address key focus areas such as ocean renewable energy, coastal carbon sequestration, hazard mitigation, and ecosystem services. This award builds on Seaahead's successful track record in catalyzing, building, and investing in bluetech innovations to drive economic growth, environmental improvement, and social equity in coastal communities.

Seaahead, a female, minority, and veteran-owned bluetech innovation leader, was founded with the understanding that to serve coastal communities impacted by the dual threats of climate change and ocean pollution, we are going to need to add a tool to the traditional policy and research toolbox venture innovation. Seaahead's vision is to develop a flourishing bluetech venture ecosystem that supports innovations that create economic growth, drive improved environmental outcomes, and address structural social inequalities in and along our waters. Seaaheads approach is catalyze, build, and invest, creating a flywheel effect that brings companies out of the lab and through the early stages of commercialization. Seaaheads phase 1 plan is to scale our operations, grow our network of partners, and expand our programs to create a greater impact by addressing ocean renewable energy, coastal and ocean carbon sequestration monitoring and accounting, hazard mitigation and coastal resilience, and ecosystem services. We will unite with core US deep tech experts to understand the messages and structures that attract technologies from adjacent sectors to address ocean challenges and close the commercialization GAP. With this NOAA climate resilience accelerator funding, seaahead build on its successful track record and will:1) strengthen core functions, programs, and partnerships.2) translate ocean climate resilience needs for US deep tech leadership.3) bridge the commercialization GAP for ocean startups.4) expand upon our diversity, equity & inclusion mandate within bluetech. Phase 1 planning scope of work: the scope of work is split into six discrete workstreams for phase 1 and split across two stages. Phase 1A from february 1ST through june 15TH, with a midpoint review on (or around) june 15TH, and phase 1B from june 15TH through october 31ST. We detail the milestones and deliverables for 1A and 1C in the budget narrative.