The Ocean Startup Project this week launched the second round of Amplify.
Amplify is Ocean Startup Project’s collaborative commercialization program for high-potential Canadian ocean technology ventures.
The program is designed to close the gap between innovation and commercialization by helping startups validate their solutions with customers and progress toward revenue and scale.
Through Amplify, companies can receive up to $25,000 in funds to support pilot projects, customer demonstrations, and early deployments.
The last round stretched coast-to-coast, with funding for three geographically diverse ocean startups: Sailbotix out of B.C.; Waabaag Energy Corp based in Ontario; and Nova Scotia’s Lillianah Technologies.
Through Amplify, the three startups worked with Ocean Startup Project’s network of delivery partners to define and achieve commercialization milestones, including pilot execution, customer validation, and deployment readiness.
This next round of Amplify is being delivered through a national network of more partner organizations than ever—including 2 Degrés, the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies, COVE, Foresight Canada, Genesis, Invest Nova Scotia, Marine Institute of Memorial University’s The Launch, Cycle Momentum, Emera ideaHUB, and Vimy Forge.
“Collaboration is what makes Canada’s ocean economy thrive,” suggests Paula Mendonça, Executive Director of the Ocean Startup Project.
Ocean founders “are building solutions with enormous potential,” Mendonça observes, “but moving from validation to adoption takes more than a strong idea.”
Rather, “it takes customers willing to test new technologies, partners who can open doors, and coordinated support that helps startups prove value in real-world conditions.”
Amplify “brings that network together so founders can move faster toward market traction, while strengthening the ecosystem that helps ocean innovation grow,” according to Mendonça.
A total of $100,000 is available through this round of Amplify to support essential commercialization costs such as technology deployment, materials, equipment, and travel for field trials.
Applications and funding will be awarded on an ongoing basis through December or until funding runs out.
Amplify is open to Canadian-incorporated ocean startups that are seven years old or less, have 50 employees or fewer, and are participating in a challenge, accelerator or early adopter program with an Amplify Partner.