Australia-based Ocean Impact Organisation has selected six startups from around the world for its inaugural Ocean Impact Accelerator Program.
Revealing the startups on World Ocean Day, OIO co-founder and CEO Nick Chiarelli said two of the companies, Nuvoe from Sydney, and Uuvipak from Brisbane, are among the six potentially game-changing startups involved in the 7-month program to help improve ocean health
Ocean Impact created Australia’s first angel investment fund dedicated to ocean health solutions, raising more than $1 million. Each startup will receive ~$100k investment as part of the program, which culminates in a live pitch at the Ocean Impact Innovation Showcase in Sydney on November 24.
“We know that ideas follow funding, so it’s vital that we drive increased capital into this space in order to reach the critical mass of founders and solutions that can ultimately transform ocean and planetary health,” Chiarelli said.
“The quality of applications that we received from startups operating across Australia and the Pacific was very pleasing and is indicative of this fast emerging ocean impact sector that only a few years ago was nascent at best.”
The six startups and the solutions they are working on are:
Mayani, Manila, Philippines: Mayani is an agri-fisheries platform building a sustainable pathway to market for the Philippines’ 10 million smallholder farmers and fishers. The agri-fisheries marketplace directly sources agri-fisheries products from smallholder fishers and distributes them downstream to the market in a sustainable and digital value chain.
Nuvoe, Sydney, Australia: Nuvoe is building a range of products to deliver personalised, crafted mineral water from any source in the world, all while trying to eliminate single-use plastic bottles.
RiverRecycle, Helsinki, Finland: RiverRecycle aims to stop ocean plastic pollution by implementing river plastic recovery, land-based collection, mechanical recycling and chemical recycling to create value from otherwise ‘low-value’ plastic waste.
Saathi, Ahmedabad, India: Saathi manufactures 100% biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads from banana and bamboo fibres that not only addresses waste but also ethical sourcing and supply chains which can work to alleviate poverty.
Skyology, Oregon, USA: Skyology rebuilds coral reefs with captured air pollution. Theye use proprietary georeactor technology to convert mining waste and atmospheric CO2 into a mild and safe form of ocean alkalinity
Uuvipak, Brisbane, Australia: Uuvipak upcycles clean organic food waste into single-use plastic alternatives, such as takeaway containers, cups, and cutlery. Unlike most biodegradable products available on the market, these products decompose naturally within a few weeks and are even edible!
More on the startups, and details of how to get involved as a mentor, investor or future program participant please visit here.
