Maritime blue will scale its national leading blue ventures programming utilizing our extensive network of cluster members, partners, and stakeholders including private industry, public agencies,…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $496,806 Cooperative Agreement under the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) federal grant program (CFDA 11.012) to Washington Maritime Blue, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the blue economy in the Pacific Northwest. The funding supports Washington Maritime Blue's efforts to scale its national "Maritime Blue" programming, which includes an innovation accelerator, startup incubators, and initiatives focused on ocean health, maritime decarbonization, sustainable fishing, and marine renewable energy. Key activities include expanding recruitment, enhancing mentorship, improving capital deployment processes, and increasing data management and analytics capabilities. The award also enables Washington Maritime Blue to expand its equity-focused workforce and internship development programs, connecting underrepresented communities with startups and technology developers in the maritime sector.

Maritime blue will scale its national leading blue ventures programming utilizing our extensive network of cluster members, partners, and stakeholders including private industry, public agencies, research institutions, and community organizations. Combining our entrepreneurship programs for ocean-based climate solutions with access to venture, debt, and non-dilutive capital, and our extensive relationships across the blue economy we will formally establish a hub and spoke model for the greater NW (or, WA, AK) and the west coast of the US. With NOAA support we will expand our rigorous recruitment process; increase technology-based mentors; enhance due diligence processes, mechanisms, and infrastructure for deploying capital; increase data management and analytics; and, expand existing equity engagement programming for workforce and internship development between startups/technology developers and underrepresented communities. Our existing programming includes our marquee maritime blue innovation accelerator, the one ocean accelerator, and both the seattle and tacoma maritime blue incubators. These programs support U.S. And international early to mid-stage startups addressing challenges in maritime blues strategic focus areas including; ocean health and sustainability, maritime decarbonization and digitalization, sustainable fishing and seafood, and marine renewable energy.