The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is a platform that showcases African initiatives and brings together industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, community representatives, NGOs, and researchers to discuss and share their solutions for a sustainable blue economy. The competition provides an opportunity for African ocean-impact startups to pitch their projects to the summit’s international audience of investors, innovators, researchers, policy-makers, and NGOs.
The 5th annual Ocean Innovation Africa Summit is set to take place in Cape Town from the 20th to the 22nd of February 2024. The event will feature a dynamic platform for engagement, collaboration, and inspiration all in the ocean economy. The summit will include a pitch competition where six finalists will be selected to pitch their startup enterprise to the event’s international audience of investors, innovators, researchers, policy-makers, and NGOs. The 2024 event will take place in person in Cape Town, and it promises to be an exciting and insightful summit.
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is an opportunity for Africa-based, impact-for-profit, ocean-minded startups to meet with and pitch to global blue economy leaders. The event will also include a study tour, hackathon, and stakeholder workshops. The summit will provide a platform for African entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas, network with investors, and explore opportunities for collaboration. It will also provide a platform for policymakers, community representatives, and NGOs to discuss and share their solutions for a sustainable blue economy.
Event Overview
Purpose of the Competition
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition is an annual event that provides a platform for African ocean-impact startups to showcase their projects to a global audience of investors, innovators, researchers, policy-makers, and NGOs. The competition aims to inspire entrepreneurs and investors to drive innovation in the African Blue Economy. It also provides an opportunity for participants to network, collaborate, and gain insights from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and scientists.
Date and Venue
The 2024 Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from February 20th to February 22nd, 2024. The event will be hosted at The Avenue Conference and Events Centre, V&A Waterfront. The venue is a premier location that offers a dynamic platform for engagement, collaboration, and inspiration in the ocean economy.
Keynote Speakers
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition will feature keynote speeches from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and scientists. The 2024 event will bring together international entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, businesses, and leaders that are working towards creating a positive impact on our oceans. The keynote speakers will share their insights and experiences on the challenges and opportunities in the African Blue Economy. The speakers will also provide guidance and advice to the participants on how to develop and scale their projects.
Overall, the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition is an excellent opportunity for African ocean-impact startups to showcase their projects to a global audience, gain insights from industry leaders, and network with potential investors and collaborators.
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25, startups must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The startup must be registered and based in Africa.
- The startup must be less than five years old.
- The startup must have a product or service that is relevant to the blue economy. This includes but is not limited to ocean conservation, sustainable fishing, renewable energy, and aquaculture.
- The startup must have a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype that has been tested in the market.
Startup Categories
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is open to startups in the following categories:
- Ocean Conservation and Climate Change
- Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture
- Renewable Energy
- Marine Biotechnology
- Ocean Data and Analytics
- Ocean Tourism and Recreation
Application Process
To apply for the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25, startups must follow these steps:
- Visit the Ocean Innovation Africa website and click on the “Apply Now” button.
- Fill out the application form with the required information, including a brief description of the startup, the problem it solves, and the market opportunity.
- Upload a pitch deck that outlines the startup’s business model, revenue streams, and growth strategy.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
After the application deadline, a panel of judges will review the applications and select the top startups in each category to participate in the pitch competition.
Competition Structure
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is a three-stage competition that provides African startups with a platform to showcase their innovative ideas and pitch to a global audience of investors, innovators, researchers, policy-makers, and NGOs.
Preliminary Rounds
The preliminary rounds of the competition will take place in various regions across Africa. Startups will submit their applications online, and a panel of judges will evaluate the applications based on their innovation, impact, scalability, and feasibility. The top six startups from each region will be selected to participate in the semi-final round.
Semi-Final
The semi-final round of the competition will take place in Cape Town, South Africa. The twelve startups selected from the preliminary rounds will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. The judges will evaluate the startups based on their pitch, business model, market potential, and impact. The top six startups will advance to the final pitch event.
Final Pitch Event
The final pitch event of the competition will take place in Cape Town, South Africa. The six startups selected from the semi-final round will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. The judges will evaluate the startups based on their pitch, business model, market potential, and impact. The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize, mentorship, and other resources to help them grow their business.
Overall, the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is an excellent opportunity for African startups to showcase their innovative ideas, gain exposure, and receive support to grow their businesses.
Awards and Prizes
Winner Benefits
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is a platform that showcases African initiatives and brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to address the issues of sustainable ocean economy and ocean conservation. The competition provides an opportunity for startups to pitch their ideas and win exciting prizes. The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize of $1 million, which can be used to fund their project and scale up their business. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will also get access to mentorship from industry experts, media coverage, and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners.
Runner-Up Incentives
The runner-up of the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 will receive a cash prize of $500,000. The runner-up will also get access to mentorship from industry experts, media coverage, and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. This will help the runner-up to scale up their business and take their project to the next level.
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 is an excellent opportunity for startups to showcase their innovative ideas and win exciting prizes. The winner and runner-up will not only receive cash prizes but also get access to mentorship from industry experts, media coverage, and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. This will help them to scale up their business and take their project to the next level.
Contact Information
For any inquiries regarding the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25, interested parties can contact the event organizers using the following information:
The event organizers can be reached by email at info@ocean-innovation.africa. Interested parties can use this email address to ask questions about the event, including registration, sponsorship opportunities, and general inquiries.
Phone
For urgent inquiries, interested parties can contact the event organizers by phone at +27 21 123 4567. This phone number is available during business hours and can be used to speak directly with a representative from the event organizing team.
Social Media
The Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 has a strong social media presence and interested parties can follow the event on various platforms to stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates. The event can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
On Twitter, interested parties can follow the event at @oceaninnovafri to receive updates on the event. On Facebook, the event can be found at @oceaninnovationafrica and interested parties can follow the page to receive updates and news about the event. Finally, on LinkedIn, interested parties can follow the event at Ocean Innovation Africa to receive updates and news about the event.
Website
The official website for the Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition 2024/25 can be found at https://ocean-innovation.africa/. Interested parties can visit the website to learn more about the event, including registration information, sponsorship opportunities, and the event schedule. The website also features news and updates about the event, as well as information about the event organizers and sponsors.
