it’s a journey.
we’re your guide.

if you are:

  • a researcher with a great idea

  • a project team looking for support and mentorship

  • a startup that wants to take things to the next level

  • later stage company seeking to increase market & industry access

  • a company in an adjacent industry entering aquaculture

then this is for you.

hatch innovation studios are free for all accepted participants, but there is a competitive application process. please be mindful of a specific programme’s deadlines and fundamentals found in their faq.

the innovation studios & venture builders are here to stay

select from our current programs

together with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Seafood Development Agency, Hatch Blue is coming back to Ireland in 2024 to repeat its successful 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Aquatech Innovation Studio format. this year we will also welcome applications from across Europe to partake in and join in the development of Ireland’s growing Aquatech innovation community

the BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio will take place at the River Lee Hotel in Cork, Ireland, 30 September - 11 October 2024. follow our social media communications to receive further updates about the aquatech program including upcoming application process and program details.

Ireland

we seek to develop early-stage technology concepts & ideas from Ireland and Europe to enable participants to turn their projects into startups. participating in this workshop will assist participants with the commercial development of their business, technology validation and investor readiness  as they seek to grow and scale their business into a sustainable and profitable aquaculture company.

from venture capital and business management to deep insight into the aquaculture sector, we will make sure you are off to a great start in the industry.

 

faq Ireland

  • application deadline is 19 July, 2024; 5pm gmt.

  • the two week innovation studio kicks off 30 September, 2024.

  • two weeks, full-time, 9-5:30pm, Mon-Fri.

  • the River Lee Hotel, Cork, https://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-river-lee-hotel

  • there is no equity investment in the BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio, however there is an opportunity to connect with Hatch Blueʻs investment team and other similar investors within our network.

  • the Innovation Studio is more appropriate for a range of earlier stage projects that are not yet looking for an equity investment. such projects require further business and product development and more in-depth knowledge on the regional and global aquaculture industry.

    the content of the sessions will be tailored for earlier stage projects that are seeking ways to either enter aquaculture or alternative seafood from adjacent industries or commercialize technology beyond research institutes and institutes of higher learning.

    the innovation studio takes place over a shorter duration - 2 weeks and thus there is less contact time with the Hatch Blue team compared to the Crest accelerator.

  • there is no specific requirement for you to disclose your confidential information (including any trade secrets) or IP during the program. however if you do wish to share any information with us, the Hatch Blue team will ensure that all information is kept totally confidential and will not be shared without your written permission.

  • you do not need to have a registered entity upon application but we hope that you intend and are ready to do so by the end of the programme.

  • yes, you are still eligible. Hatch Blue is unique as it is the world's leading aquaculture-focused accelerator, and can offer both business support and/or sector expertise depending on the startup's needs.

  • one but ideally two co-founders.

  • yes, full time attendance Monday to Friday is mandatory.

  • yes, October 11th will include an international Aquatech stakeholder event.

  • if you are ready to take your business to the next step and we believe in your potential, Hatch Blue will continue to play a hands-on role assisting participants to navigate fundraising, business propositions, and, most important of all, finding customers.

  • Hatch Blue was conceived in late 2017 by co-founders Carsten Krome, Georg Baunach and Wayne Murphy, with the goal to revolutionise the way we produce seafood through investing in its technological development.

3.3 billion people rely on seafood for protein, and when women are engaged in ocean food production, output increases by 10-20%. however, only 4% of CEOs in top seafood companies are women (WSI 2021).

together with conservation international ventures, we launched the world’s first global women in aquaculture innovation studio in 2021 to bridge this gender gap. in november 2022 we delivered an in-person programme in Bali, with a focus on women led businesses in East & Southeast Asia.

january 2024, we will hold our 3rd programme in Baja California Sur, Mexico. by focusing on women entrepreneurs and diverse leadership teams, we aim to develop more successful and innovative companies in ocean foods. you will be part of a cohort of female leaders and diverse teams whose goals are to build a sustainable ocean economy.

women in ocean food

La Paz, Mexico 2024

the women in ocean food innovation studio is an equity-free programme for you to develop your project’s commercial scalability, technological readiness, and industry fit.

you will have the opportunity to connect with a global network of aquaculture industry experts to validate your ideas, to understand key market insights, and learn to pitch to investors and customers.

we are placing a special focus on teams from Latin America for the 2024 programme.

in partnership with conservation international we plan to expand our geographic focus to include a Sub-Saharan Africa focused programme in 2025.

please note: this programme is for women and gender-diverse leadership teams only. All travel, accommodation and food costs will be covered by the programme for those successful applications (x2 per team).

faq women in ocean food

  • application deadline is Friday, 24th of November, 2023

  • 15-26 January, 2024

    location: Baja, Mexico

  • our 2024 programme will be based in Baja, Mexico.

  • programmes are held full-time Mon-Fri 9-5:30 over a two week period.

  • all travel accommodation and food costs will be covered for two people per team, for the duration of the programme.

  • whilst there is no equity investment during the programme, there is opportunity to meet investors within our network who may seek to invest in your company, including HATCH and Conservation International Ventures.

  • the Innovation Studio is more appropriate for a range of earlier stage projects that are not yet looking for an equity investment. such projects require further business and product development and more in-depth knowledge on the regional and global aquaculture industry.

    the content of the sessions will be tailored for earlier stage projects that are seeking ways to either enter aquaculture or alternative seafood from adjacent industries or commercialize technology beyond research institutes and institutes of higher learning.

    the innovation studio takes place over a shorter duration of two weeks and thus there is less contact time with the HATCH team compared to the accelerator. companies in the accelerator program benefit from more rigorous development and resources from the HATCH team over 3.5 months.

  • there is no specific requirement for you to disclose your confidential information (including any trade secrets) or IP during the program. however if you do wish to share any information with us, the HATCH team will ensure that all information is kept totally confidential and will not be shared without your written permission.

  • you do not need to have a registered entity upon application but we expect that you are ready to do so by the end of the program.

  • yes, you are still eligible.

  • one but ideally two co-founders.

  • yes, on-site presence is required as we will run all activities in one location. in our experience, physically connecting with the cohort, Hatch team and its mentors is far more rewarding and productive.

  • if you are ready to take your business to the next step and we see you as a suitable investment opportunity, at that time, we may seek to invest. HATCH and Conservation International Ventures will however continue to play a hands-on role assisting participants to navigate fundraising, business propositions, and, most important of all, finding customers.

  • HATCH was conceived in late 2017 by co-founders Carsten Krome, Georg Baunach and Wayne Murphy, with the goal to revolutionise the way we produce seafood through investing in its technological development.

Blue Venture Builder AFRICA

Cape Town 2024

Building a regional, interconnected, and gender-diverse Blue Technology Community.

Digital entrepreneurship is the driver of digital change in Africa. Entrepreneurs have the potential to modernize the economies and societies of their countries.

They possess the skills to create new perspectives, find innovative solutions and develop new employment opportunities. Nevertheless, many young technology startups from Sub-Saharan Africa are still unable to make the leap to international market maturity. There is a lack of access to capital, customers, suitable personnel, and digital infrastructure. To be successful, entrepreneurs need a functioning "innovation ecosystem” consisting of reference customers, investors, funding agencies and training partners.

Hatch and Ocean Hub Africa with the support of Deutsch Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are partnering to build a regional and interconnected blue tech community with a gender lens. The Blue Venture Builder AFRICA program looks to support the creation of a sustainable ecosystem around Blue Tech with inclusivity in Southern Africa.

  • The deadline to apply is 29 March, 2024.

  • Program kicks off 1 May, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.

faq Blue Venture Builder AFRICA

  • the Blue Venture Builder is a first generation collaboration between Ocean Hub Africa, GIZ and HATCH. the programme seeks individuals and teams with a skillset that can solve specific bottlenecks and problems within the sustainable blue economy. through an initial 10 day bootcamp, participants will be connected with the programme’s supporters, mentors, and workshop participants to brainstorm business models and ideally, create viable, sustainable, blue economy business solutions.

  • the ultimate objective is to build viable, sustainable, blue economy businesses that will have an impact in the sector.

  • application deadline is Friday, 29th of March, 2024.

  • Phase I

    1st - 10th May, 2024: 10 day bootcamp

    location: Cape Town, South Africa

    Phase II & III

    5-month remote and hybrid process

  • our 2024 Blue Venture Builder will be located in Cape Town, South Africa.

  • this programme is a 3 phase process beginning with phase I on 1st May, 2024 for a 10-day bootcamp. phases II & III consist of a “validation” and “acceleration” period that will take place over the course of a further 5 months.

  • all flight travel (up to €1000) accommodation (100 euro/night) and a per diem (30 euro) will be covered for each selected participant.

  • whilst there is no equity investment during the programme, there is opportunity to meet investors within our network who may seek to invest in your company, including HATCH and other investors in the blue economy.

  • if you attend with already existing patents or IP, there is no specific requirement for you to disclose your confidential information (including any trade secrets) or IP during the program. however if you do wish to share any information with us, the HATCH team will ensure that all information is kept totally confidential and will not be shared without your written permission.

  • you do not need to have a registered company to apply for this programme. however, we expect all participants to have the objective of setting up a company during the course of the programme and will evaluate applicants on this accordingly.

  • on a case-by-case basis, we will consider a maximum of four participants per team.

  • yes, during the initial 10-day bootcamp beginning on 1st May, on-site presence is required as we will run all activities in one location. in our experience, physically connecting with the cohort, HATCH team and its mentors is far more rewarding and productive.

    the subsequent phase II & III of the programme will take place remote and hybrid.

  • subsequent online support sessions will continue to assess participant’ progress.

  • HATCH was conceived in late 2017 by co-founders Carsten Krome, Wayne Murphy and Georg Baunach, with the goal to revolutionise the way we produce seafood through investing in its technological development