Twenty-one startups have been selected to participate in the Spring 2026 Stage 0 workshop of the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator. With the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we are pleased to recognize these innovators as they take the first steps in developing and commercializing technologies that will transform and build the future of America’s coasts. Together, VentureWell and NOAA are working to achieve the overarching goal of the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program: to support the adoption of new ocean data technologies and services that benefit the United States and our growing blue economy.
This introductory Stage 0 program is designed to empower America’s innovators to reach commercialization, helping inventors and small businesses with bold ideas for coastal solutions refine strategies to bring their visions to life.
Through a three-day virtual training workshop plus a month of direct mentorship and customer discovery, participants will gain an understanding of the steps they need to take to advance their innovations and explore the commercialization pathways necessary to launch them. With the preparation they receive in Stage 0, the ventures will be eligible to apply for continued support in the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program funnel and the next step: Stage 1.
Meet the Cohort
AquaFrontier Technologies
Brooklyn, New York
AquaFrontier is building accessible ocean intelligence with affordable autonomous underwater hardware, data pipelines, and products that democratize ocean observation.
BIRE Technologies Inc.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
BIRE Technologies is building a compact hydrokinetic-powered sensing and communications hub that delivers 24/7 power and continuous water-quality monitoring for remote rivers and tidal channels.
BluCore Minerals
San Bernardino, California
BluCore Minerals develops modular lithium and critical mineral recovery systems from coastal desalination brine before it is discharged back to the ocean.
Blue Data Technologies
Essex, Montana
Blue Data Technologies is designing a working prototype of a low-power submersible trail camera to monitor salmon spawning streams and near-shore marine environments.
Conservación Educación Tecnología Innovación (CETI)
Ponce, Puerto Rico
CETI is building a small-to-medium scale profitable aquaculture food production and coastal conservation-integrated system.
Flying Forests
Reno, Nevada
Flying Forests has created ecosystem restoration technology for aqueous and marine environments, including coastal and near-shore subsurface seagrass ecosystems.
Hyper-Chute Systems
San Jose, California
Hyper-Chute is developing a technology to extract energy from ultra-low-speed water flows, low-range tidal areas, and tidal currents.
Isurus Dynamics LLC
Austin, Texas
Isurus Dynamics is building submersible hydro-kinetic turbines for off-grid marine and coastal operators.
Kurma AI
San Francisco, California
KurmaAI leverages generative AI and computer vision to optimize aquaculture operations, combat illegal fishing, and upskill the U.S. blue economy workforce for a sustainable future.
MacroBreed
New York, New York
MacroBreed is modernizing seaweed aquaculture by leveraging genomics to increase the production and value of farmed seaweed through selective breeding.
The OceanH2 Systems Team
Atlanta, Georgia
OceanH2’s modular subsea electrolyzers convert ocean-derived electricity into hydrogen for long-duration storage and maritime fuel, enabling resilient offshore energy systems and decarbonized ocean industries.
Omission Inc.
Saco, Maine
Omission builds portable autonomous surface vessels for persistent nearshore data collection, delivering survey-grade marine intelligence at 50% to 70% less than traditional manned operations.
ORCA
Corvallis, Oregon
ORCA is pioneering AI foundation modeling of the oceans, which will increase the ability to predict environmental shocks to fisheries and aquaculture operators.
OtriConX
Houston, Texas, and Wilmington, Delaware
OtriConX is a modular hybrid marine energy platform integrating wave and offshore wind with AI to reduce intermittency, cut operating and maintenance costs, and deliver dispatchable clean power.
Rilear Industries
Boston, Massachusetts
Rilear Industries is building an underwater charging network that enables ships and submarines to autonomously recharge unmanned underwater vehicles while submerged using wireless induction charging and docking technology.
Safar
Bronx, New York
Safar has designed a device that can detect and collect fishing nets using OpenMV and robotic arms that can pick up the nets and stow them away in a storage unit.
TDSX
Tampa, Florida
TDSX has built an autonomous submersible for ocean data collection, designed to be easily launchable by hand from a small vessel or the shoreline.
Terralith3D
Corvallis, Oregon
Terralith3D is creating 3D-printed coastal sill structures using low-impact in-situ soils, biochar, and pulverized calcium carbonate shells to lessen wave energy, reduce erosion, and promote marine biological settlement on living shorelines.
UFish
Tallahassee, Florida
UFish is building boat-mounted sensors to create a decentralized network of weather data points to provide more accurate and localized data.
Watts on Water
San Diego, California
Watts on Water has designed a dedicated prospecting and design platform for aquatic photovoltaics, enabling developers and stakeholders to build faster and smarter.
Zeaclub
Wilmington, Delaware
Zeaclub is a maritime software that connects ship owners, charterers, brokers, agents, and ports in a single collaborative workspace to simplify commercial shipping operations powered by AI.
We congratulate the selected participants of the Spring 2026 Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Stage 0 cohort. The program will be hosted virtually from May 19-21, with support continuing through the closing session on June 9.
Are you interested in joining this community of innovators and being part of the future of the blue economy? Applications are currently open for fall 2026!
Stay tuned for more updates, and stay informed about VentureWell’s expanded offerings and opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs by joining our mailing list.