Announcing XTC’s New Partnership with Katapult Ocean
Katapult Ocean, the world’s largest investor in ocean tech startups, believes in a world where a thriving ocean is in harmony with economic development. From sustainable seaweed production to combatting microplastic pollution to offshore wind power infrastructure, Katapult Ocean’s portfolio companies simultaneously represent the vanguard of impact ocean tech and the greatest opportunity for investment.
Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is the world’s largest tech platform to showcase the most innovative, purpose-driven startup companies across the globe. XTC attracts startups applicants to its competitions from 120+ countries across six continents in 100+ countries. Founded by legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalists, Young Sohn and Bill Tai, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs building innovative technologies that improve the world. The goal is to identify potential market-leading companies that can impact the world in a big way and provide the rocket fuel to help them scale faster. Since 2015, XTC startup finalists have raised $3.5B thanks to the support from leading corporations, venture capital investors, foundations, policymakers, universities, startup ecosystem builders, and tech conferences.
This year’s One Ocean Conference will focus on 3 missions:
- Green transition and new thinking in shipping
- New energy solutions for the future, and
- Sustainable seafood proteins to meet global food demand.
The Conference and the various events during the One Ocean Week will bring together industry leaders, politicians, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and students – to discover, connect, and collaborate on how we together can find solutions for a more sustainable use of ocean resources.
The XTC Marine Tech Startup Innovation Challenge is seeking new ventures that have developed breakthrough innovations in:
FISHERIES & AQUACULTURE – to help improve water quality, fish health, waste management, pathogen recognition, remote sensing, data collection, autonomous control, inspection and maintenance, and address other industry challenges.
SHIPPING & MARINE TRANSPORTATION – to help increase efficiency, enhance marine security, optimize maritime traffic management, improve yard operations, optimize truck turnaround times, reduce environmental impact on local communities, and address other industry challenges.
OFFSHORE ENERGY – to help increase energy efficiency, enhance marine security, monitor disruptions to marine habitats, optimize maritime traffic management, improve sustainability and increase profitability, and address other industry challenges.
MARINE BIORESOURCES – to help identify bio-active compounds in marine life, characterize biodiversity in marine environments, repel and exterminate sea lice naturally, enhance the microbiome in common fish species to improve fish health and performance, and address other industry challenges.
NEW FRONTIERS – to help improve ocean monitoring, enhance communications and data telemetry systems, reduce strain on human resources, increase cybersecurity for marine assets, provide low-logistics underwater measurement and surveillance, and address other industry challenges.
Application deadline is February 26, 2023. The top 3 finalists in each of the above categories will have the opportunity to pitch live on stage during the One Ocean Conference Week on April 18 in Bergen, Norway. One Winner for each category and an overall winner will be announced live on stage.
The pitches will be judged on the following equally-weighted evaluation criteria:
- TEAM: Team’s credential and experience
- PRODUCT/SERVICE INNOVATION: The level of innovation of the product or service
- PRODUCT MARKET FIT: Proof of commercial scalability and market size to support growth and profitability
- TECH FOR GOOD: The degree and reach of impact on human and planetary health
This startup challenge is jointly organized by XTC’s partner, Innovation Norway, the Norwegian Government’s most important instrument for innovation and development of Norwegian enterprises and industry. It supports companies in developing their competitive advantage and to enhance innovation.
To learn more about the event and to apply: XTC Marine Tech Startup Innovation Challenge