New England is about to have its first incubator dedicated to early-stage bluetech startups.
BlueSwell, a project of the New England Aquarium and bluetech startup platform SeaAhead, will incubate startups developing solutions geared toward ocean sustainability and global resilience.
Each startup in the program will receive $35,000 in non-dilutive grant funding to build out ocean-related innovations, especially technology and business models focused on offshore renewable energy, sustainable seafood, maritime decarbonization, marine pollution and resilient waterfronts. That funding will be disbursed in three tranches, at the beginning, middle and end of the program.
Startups will have access to the expertise of SeaAhead and the New England Aquarium's research arm, the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, during the program, which runs for 20 weeks. The program will be take place in the SeaAhead Bluetech Innovation Hub, a bluetech-focused coworking space at CIC Boston.
"Through BlueSwell, we will support a diverse group of new bluetech founders as they bring their technologies out of the lab," SeaAhead executive director Alissa Peterson said in a statement. "The program will provide a critical bridge for new venture ideation tied to ocean sustainability, building the skills and knowledge base required for founders to raise commercial capital to support their growing startups."
For its first cohort, BlueSwell is looking for founders leading early-stage startups that have taken little to no outside capital with the exception of research and development funding. Priority will be given to applicants who are already based in New England and intend to stay in the region.
Applications are open until Aug. 9. Cohorts will be selected in mid-September, with the program set to begin on Oct. 26.
