OceanHub Africa, a non-profit organization that supports startups focusing on various aspects of the blue economy, has announced the commencement of its fourth acceleration program for ocean-minded entrepreneurs across Africa. The program is looking for eligible startups that can aid in ocean sustainability and equity while operating in Africa. The founder of OceanHub Africa, Alexis Grosskopf, stated that the organization is seeking entrepreneurs who are not only enthusiastic about the oceans but also committed to making a positive impact in their communities. The acceleration program has been successful in supporting its portfolio of startups to raise $3.5 million in 2022 and has expanded its operations to other countries, increasing their economic, social, and environmental impact.
Captain Fanplastic, a South African-based startup, is one of the startups that OceanHub Africa has supported. It has scaled its international environmental education program by leveraging behavioral science to encourage children to consume less plastic and manage iteducation program by leveraging behavioral science to encourage children to consume less plastic and manage it. Captain Fanplastic scaled its solutions in eight additional African countries in 2022, highlighting the potential impact of OceanHub Africa's acceleration program. The organization's fourth acceleration program is set to begin in July and will include an in-person boot camp in Cape Town. The program will provide training on investment readiness, access-to-market, pitching, and ocean-impact measurement and management.
Selected entrepreneurs will also receive personalized advice from key mentors and industry experts up until their graduation, which coincides with Ocean Innovation Africa, the accelerator's international summit dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the African Ocean Space, at the end of February 2024. Eligible startups must have a scalable service or product available on the market, be innovative and/or have a disruptive business model, and positively contribute to ocean sustainability while promoting ocean equity. Entrepreneurs who meet the eligibility criteria are being encouraged by OceanHub Africa to seize the chance to join a network of like-minded individuals such as ocean-focused entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and businesses that are dedicated to speeding up the creation and adoption of innovative, sustainable ocean solutions in Africa. Mahomed has confidence that Africa can emerge as a frontrunner in developing sustainable ocean solutions.
Through the acceleration program, OceanHub Africa wants to help entrepreneurs take their startups to the next level and contribute to a more environmentally conscious and profitable economy that effectively mitigates the oceans' overexploitation, pollution, and the effects of global warming on the oceans. The application deadline for the fourth cohort of OceanHub Africa's acceleration program is Sunday, May 14, 2023. Interested entrepreneurs can visit the organization's website or email contact@oceanhub.africa for more information and registration.
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