Ocean Hub Africa Acceleration Program 2025 Accelerating Innovative Ocean Impact-For-Profit Startups in Africa

Ocean Hub Africa, the main enabler of ocean-impact entrepreneurship in Africa, is thrilled to announce the launch of the sixth cohort of its twelve-month acceleration program. This initiative is designed to help as much as 24 of Africa’s most promising for-profit startups devoted to preserving and restoring the well being of the ocean. With two intakes per 12 months (March and July), functions are reviewed on a rolling foundation.

Our program nurtures environmentally acutely aware, worthwhile ventures that contribute to combating international warming, overexploitation, and ocean air pollution. Through our intensive community of stakeholders and facilitators, we provide a hybrid program to create sustainable pathways for steady earnings (ROIs) and scalable progress throughout Africa.

What You Can Expect

Joining the Ocean Hub Africa portfolio gives entry to:

• Global Networking: Connect with main ocean specialists, mentors, self-development coaches, alumni, impression traders, and potential collaborators.
• Blue Economy Ecosystem: Collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs in Africa and overseas.
• Growth Support: Accelerate progress by buyer acquisition, proof-of-concept execution, and scaling your enterprise through business contracts and fundraising.
• Hybrid Program: A mix of distant classes, a one-week in-person bootcamp, and participation in the annual Ocean Innovation Africa Summit.
• Phased Engagement: An preliminary analysis section, adopted by superior help for chosen startups (Bridge to Opportunities), resulting in program commencement.

What We Offer

Service Package

• Cloud Services: Up to $75k in AWS Activate credit.
• Engineering Software: Over $40k in mechanical engineering design software program licenses from 3DExperience Lab.
• Premium Tools: Access to Notion Premium, HubSpot help, and extra.
• Legal Advisory: Up to $50k value of authorized advisory classes with multinational regulation companies (Sidley Austin, Bowmans, and Lex Mundi).
• Expert Advisors: Sessions with organizations like Mercator Ocean International, WWF-SA, and Ocean14 Capital.
• Coaching: Personalized teaching by the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business’ Centre for Coaching.

Mentorship & Support

• In-person coaching bootcamp.
• Tailored enterprise and private improvement teaching.
• Support in gross sales, product improvement, communication, and enterprise progress.
• Mentorship from a various community of specialists in science, enterprise, impression, and funding.

Network Access

• Networking occasions and conferences, together with Ocean Innovation Africa Summit.
• Opportunities for native and worldwide enlargement.
• Connections with ocean-impact incubators and accelerators globally.
• Potential attendance at Katapult Ocean’s Future Festival in Norway.

Fundraising Support

• Potential funding of as much as $15k.
• Investor pitch preparation and coaching.
• Legal help in deal structuring.
• Access to impression traders and enterprise capitalist funds.

Ocean Hub Africa can also be a nominator group for The Earth shot Prize.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, your startup should:

• Have a direct or oblique constructive impression on oceans (addressing local weather change, air pollution, or overexploitation).
• Be a for-profit entity working in Africa.
• Offer a scalable services or products that’s market-ready or close to launch.
• Demonstrate innovation or a disruptive enterprise mannequin.
• Seek funding or new market alternatives.

Selection Criteria

• Impact: Environmental/social impression objectives and effectiveness in addressing ocean well being challenges.
• Business Model: Product-market match, market potential, innovation, and scalability.
• Technology: Ownership of mental property, dependable know-how, and flexibility.
• Team: Relevant experience, dedication, and focus.

Program Timeline

10 December 2024: Applications open for each intakes.
16 January 2025 – 22 May 2025: Online Q&A classes.

Intake 1

• 3 February 2025: Announcement of shortlisted candidates.
• 6–7 February 2025: Pitch preparation.
• 13–14 February 2025: Final choice pitches.
• 14 February 2025: Announcement of chosen startups.
• 6 March 2025: Program kickoff.
• 4–11 May 2025: In-person bootcamp.
• 30 June 2025: Evaluation for second section.

Intake 2

• 28 April 2025: Announcement of shortlisted candidates.
• 1–2 May 2025: Pitch preparation.
• 8–9 May 2025: Final choice pitches.
• 9 May 2025: Announcement of chosen startups.
• 5 June 2025: Program kickoff.
• 3–10 August 2025: In-person bootcamp.
• 29 September 2025: Evaluation for second section.

Second Phase

• November 2025–February 2026: Bridge to Opportunities.
• February 2026: Graduation at Ocean Innovation Africa Summit.

High-Level Terms

Expectations from Entrepreneurs:

• At least 1.5 full-time equivalents devoted to the undertaking.
• Limited participation in different applications concurrently.
• Transparent communication and reporting.
• Participation of at the least two C-level staff members.
• Coverage of journey bills for in-person classes (airfare and visa).

Compensation: Success charges as much as 5% on fundraising and 10% on business contracts secured by OHA introductions or negotiated fairness agreements.

Join Ocean Hub Africa in shaping a sustainable future for our oceans!

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