This year, the Blue Action Canada program will select up to eight ventures focused on maritime and port innovation, coastal infrastructure and adaptation, nature and biodiversity, and defense/dual-use technologies.
It will support founding teams over a four-month program with a particular emphasis on operations, product development, technology, customer discovery, commercialization, and fundraising.
Blue Action Canada also provides a unique opportunity for selected companies to access a global community of investors and partners, including Blue Action’s growing network of ports and government partners spanning ten countries, to explore pathways to pilots, testing grounds, and commercial partnerships.
Blue Action Canada was launched in 2025 during the COAST catalyst phase, supported by PacifiCan and the BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions.
The pilot cohort of ocean innovators included players in dual-use, like Ocean AID, marine solar panel startup Open Waters Solar, marine renewable energy companies AOE and Swordfish Energy, and next-gen marine vessel developer Celerity Craft, marine automatic target recognition venture hull cleaning robot developer Offshore Designs Ltd, and seaweed acoustic panel innovator Seacork Studio.
Cohort companies attracted over $2 million in dilutive and non-dilutive funding from international investors and almost $1.74 million in pre-order sales from global markets due to the connections made through participating in the Blue Action Canada program.
Tony Olynyk, Chief Marketing Officer for Open Waters Solar, said: “Blue Action Canada helped us level up across the board. Their corporate development support gave us a sharper focus. The marketing input helped refine how we talk about what we do. And their investment and business network has expanded our reach significantly. After going through countless other programs and advisors, working with seasoned founders and startup operators made all the difference.”
The 2026 program will be funded by the Canadian Ocean Supercluster (OSC).
Kendra MacDonald, CEO of OSC, said: “Over the past five years, we have helped close to 300 new ocean companies start in Canada through our innovation ecosystem projects and programming. We are excited to add to this work through our support of the Blue Action Canada program, where we know building on our capacities in the future of ports, coastal adaptation, biodiversity, dual use and defense, and other areas that are critical to the environment, security, and economy. Building on the success of the pilot program, we look forward to an impressive set of applications for the 2026 cohort.”
Launched in 2023, Blue Action Accelerator is a collaboration between Founders Factory and Bahamas-based ocean hub Blue Action. The program offers founders best-in-class support, blue economy industry leaders, and a global network of climate and ocean investors.
To date, the program has made 15 investments, including DRIFT Energy, Network Ocean, Ocean Ledger, Brineworks, ACUA Ocean, Emerald Nuclear, Clippership, and Armada Technologies. Their portfolio has raised a combined $55 million in follow-on funding. BAA is backed by Builders Vision, iAlumbra, Sea Forward Fund, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Planet Ocean Fund.
Of Blue Action Canada, George Northcott, President of Founders Factory, said: “The blue economy represents one of the most significant growth opportunities of the next decade—from maritime decarbonization and sovereign shipbuilding to the emergence of new technologies for defense and security/dual-use. Blue Action Canada shortens the path to a first customer and connects startups with the partners and markets required to scale—starting in Canada and expanding globally through our partnerships across the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore.”
Rupert Hayward, President and Chairman of Blue Action, noted: “Canada has all the ingredients to lead the next wave of the global blue economy—world-class research, deep maritime expertise, and an extraordinary coastline. Working alongside COAST, Blue Action Canada is unlocking that potential by backing founders who are building real solutions for climate resilience, maritime innovation, and ocean sustainability. We are proud to be returning for a second cohort and connecting Canada’s most ambitious ocean entrepreneurs to global markets, capital, and commercial partners.”
Applications for Blue Action Canada 2026 close February 15. The four-month accelerator will begin shortly thereafter, culminating in a residential program in May 2026 to coincide with Vancouver Web Summit.
“With over 25,000 km of coastline, 15 research and academic centers, and burgeoning ocean tech innovation, B.C. is uniquely positioned for blue economy leadership in advanced technology areas of defense/dual-use, autonomy, marine renewable and ocean intelligence,” said Evren, Director of Programming and Investment at COAST.
“Blue Action Canada brings global perspectives to regional entrepreneurs and connects them with high-value international opportunities to drive their path to commercialization.”
