Ocean Pitch Challenge 2024

Created from the alliance, in France, between Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and RespectOcean, this challenge aims to:

• Develop and promote economically viable solutions for the protection of the oceans and its marine and coastal ecosystems;
• Give the opportunity to applicants to have their solution reviewed by a Committee of experts of the Blue Economy;
• Train 10 finalists at the pitching technique in order to develop their presentation skills, and increase their chances to have their solution funded by investors;
• Reward the top three candidates during a Grand finale;
• Reward additional solutions on the following themes “special prize for the preservation;
• of marine biodiversity”, “special prize for bio-inspired solutions”, “special prize for early-stage solutions”.

Why should you apply?

• Visibility and Networking Opportunities
  • The competition provides a platform to showcase your project or idea in front of an audience comprising experts, potential investors, partners, and other stakeholders in the sector. This can give you increased visibility and create valuable networking opportunities.
• Skill Enhancement in Pitching Technique
  • The 10 solutions selected by the Expert Committee will benefit from a month of coaching in pitch technique with mentors from the SOA (Sustainable Ocean Alliance) community. The art of orally presenting your project is sometimes crucial for the success of your solution in favor of the ocean.
• Access to Resources and Various Endowments
  • The competition partners provide various endowments to the three winners of the pitch competition, as well as the special prizes. Winning or even participating in the competition could grant you access to significant resources to materialize your project.

Special Prizes

• Biodiversity Special Prize
  • This prize, in partnership with the French Office for Biodiversity, will allow the selected solution to benefit from technical support as well as a discovery day in a French marine park.
• Bioinspiration Special Prize
  • This prize, in partnership with Biomim’Expo and NewCorp Conseil, will provide the selected solution with strategic support within the biomimicry ecosystem by NewCorp Conseil, as well as a booth at Biomim’Expo 2024.
• Early-Stage Special Prize
  • This prize, in partnership with Sustainable Ocean Alliance, will grant the selected solution access to the SOA program and community.
• French Solution Special Prize
  • This prize, in partnership with the French Maritime Cluster, will grant the selected solution a one-year free membership to the Cluster’s network.
• Algae based Special Prize
  • This prize, in partnership with the Global Seaweed Coalition, will provide the selected solution with strategic support within the ecosystem.

Endowments

The list of endowments is subject to change.

• For the 10 selected solutions:
  • Visibility and online coaching support spread over a month with experts.
  • Theme: “How to pitch your solution.”
  • Assistance in obtaining the label from the Solar Impulse Foundation.
• First prize, designated by the jury:
  • A cruise for two people in a double cabin, offered by PONANT, a member of RespectOcean.
  • A booth at the upcoming Pollutec.
  • Media campaign featuring an article in the Le Marin magazine, a highlight on the WE DEMAIN online news site, and on the TVMonaco media.
  • A STARTUP pass for the ChangeNow Summit.
  • Organization of a dedicated webinar to highlight the project.
  • One year of free membership to the RespectOcean association.
  • Access for one year to the SOA mentorship program and community.
• Second prize, designated by the jury:
  • Media campaign including an article in the Le Marin magazine, featuring on the WE DEMAIN online news site, and on the TVMonaco media.
  • A STARTUP pass for the ChangeNow Summit.
  • Organization of a dedicated webinar to highlight the project
• Third prize, designated by the jury:
  • Media campaign including an article in the Le Marin magazine, featuring on the WE DEMAIN online news site, and on the TVMonaco media.
  • A STARTUP pass for the ChangeNow Summit.
  • Organization of a dedicated webinar to highlight the project.

Criteria

• Applications can only be from solutions pursuing a profit motivates business model.

For more information, visit RespectOcean.