This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
Launched in Cape Town, the African Impact Accelerator is set to support ocean economy innovation, a key initiative in the growing movement to focus efforts and investments towards healthier oceans.
Strategically situated at the crossroads of three oceans, Cape Town is well-positioned to lead this revolution on the African continent. The city is home to renowned universities and research centres, offering a fertile and dynamic business landscape rich with multicultural and international influences.
As part of this movement, OceanHub Africa launched its Ocean Innovation Africa event last week, supported by Wesgro, the South African French Embassy, the University of Cape Town, and the V&A Waterfront among others.
With the aim of nurturing an environmentally conscious and profitable economy, OceanHub Africa is on a mission to inspire and support ocean-minded start-ups. The organization will launch with the first cohort of six local start-ups in early 2020, providing them with an acceleration program, physical working space, tailored mentorship, and access to market leads.
Additionally, OceanHub Africa is offering a technology transfer support program that promotes collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs for science-based innovation. By partnering with local universities, the organization aims to find commercial use of scientific patents and strengthen the pipeline of ocean-minded start-ups.
OceanHub Africa will inaugurate its Cape Town headquarters in February 2020 and invites all interested parties to join the dynamic revolution. Calling all ocean-impact businesses, entrepreneurs, and impact investors interested in supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
