Innovation in the Blue Economy and the story of Blue Action Accelerator's Evolution

Blue Action Accelerator portfolio company ACUA Ocean

Rupert Hayward launched the Blue Action Accelerator in The Bahamas in partnership with Founders Factory, to foster ocean-focused innovation: “The accelerator was born out of necessity after facing several severe hurricanes, including Hurricane Dorian,” Hayward recalls.

“The rapid pace of climate change is alarming,” says Hayward. “Coral reefs, which support 25% of marine life, are projected to decline by 90% by 2050 due to rising sea temperatures, acidification, and human activity.”

Our program, based in The Bahamas’ Free Trade Zone, provides startups with $150,000 in seed funding, four months of hands-on support, and access to a network of global partners. By developing and testing solutions in The Bahamas and enabling routes to market and strategic partnerships, Blue Action can swiftly scale ocean-based technologies worldwide.

At Blue Action, we tap into our extensive network of partners—including ports, government agencies, and corporations—to help startups validate their ideas, pilot their technologies, and scale their solutions effectively.

The program provides critical support, from facilitating introductions to potential customers and collaborators to offering guidance on navigating complex policy and regulatory hurdles, such as permitting and licensing.

“We want to use our partnerships and network to accelerate the deployment of technologies that make a measurable impact,” he adds, “whether decarbonizing maritime shipping, conserving marine life, or scaling renewable solutions.”

Read Forbes article here