Sept 25, 2024
Katapult Ocean is proud to announce its investment in Open Ocean Robotics as part of the 2024 Accelerator cohort, taking place this Fall. Having gone through a rigorous diligence process, Open Ocean Robotics represents the top 1% of over 2,000 candidates assessed for the Accelerator Program throughout the year. In total, the recruitment round screened startups from 6 continents and over 60 countries, with the selected 12 companies representing 7 different countries and spanning 3 continents.
Open Ocean Robotics will take part in Katapult Ocean’s 2024 Accelerator Program, an accelerator specifically designed for high-impact ocean-tech companies. This award-winning program has received international praise as the most comprehensive impact accelerator program in the world. Over the next three months, Open Ocean Robotics will strengthen their skills in impact, business strategy, and financing through a combination of video modules and hands-on workshops. The company will also benefit from entering a network of international mentors, industry players, and investors.
Ross Brooks, General Partner at Katapult Ocean, says: “There is a projected USD 8.5tn in public company value at risk from exposure to ocean environmental degradation over the next 15 years. This cohort of companies represents a snapshot of the solutions urgently required to mitigate value loss and capitalize on the immense sustainable blue economy opportunity. We are delighted to have Open Ocean Robotics on board and look forward to the journey ahead through the accelerator program and beyond.”
He continues: “The ocean is one of our greatest tools in the fight against climate change, generates more oxygen than the rainforest, and provides food and water for billions of people worldwide. Yet despite its importance, we only collect data on a very small fraction of this irreplaceable asset. With this in mind, Katapult Ocean is thrilled to support Open Ocean Robotics as Julie and her team work to develop USV technology that can lower the economic and operational challenges associated with frequent, robust, and accessible ocean data collection, facilitating better measurement and monitoring of biodiversity, natural capital assets, MPAs, and offshore renewable energy sites—ensuring the ocean remains as valuable in the future as it is today.”
The 12 ocean impact startups joining the Accelerator Program and receiving investment from Katapult Ocean in 2024 are:
Carbon Ridge
Forelight
Flasc
Flocean
GBM Works
Gigablue
Neptune
NoMy (Norwegian Mycelium)
Open Ocean Robotics
Seadling
Treeconomy
Waterwhelm
About Katapult
Katapult Ocean is a global investment company focusing on early-stage, impact-driven ocean startups. Katapult has made 169 investments in impact tech startups from 47 countries, including 76 investments in ocean technologies. Katapult invests in two verticals: Ocean and Africa. Since 2016, Katapult has run 11 flagship accelerator programs and three corporate accelerator programs. In 2021, Katapult launched the Katapult Foundation to build a larger network around impact investing. Katapult also hosts the annual Katapult Future Fest in Oslo, bringing together founders, investors, and key figures in impact investment.
Find out more here: https://katapult.vc/ocean/