Events

Join Mystic Seaport Museum and Blue Venture Forum on September 28th for a special program, The Future of Blue Technology. This new collaboration will highlight experts in the rapidly growing arena of blue technology, offering insights into sustainable economic growth opportunities in our region. The program includes a panel discussion, flash-talks, on-the-water demonstrations on the Mystic River, and a networking reception. Leadership from New England based incubators, investors, and founders will discuss the future of blue technology and blue economy, including SAAB, GreenWave, Thayer Mahan, SeaTrac, JAIA, and others. There are many reasons to believe the ocean is the next economic frontier. Innovation and investment are two sides of the coin that is galvanizing economic activity in the ocean. To help meet the growing global demand for more energy, greater efficiency, resilient supply chains, and other expanded commercial opportunities, the future of the blue economy is crucial. The need to better understand our oceans, so that we can more effectively manage, protect, and use ocean resources is driving a new wave of BlueTech startups.  These startups are developing innovative new products, methodologies, and systems for commercial, governmental, and defense customers. Join us for a fascinating evening! Draft Agenda 4:30-4:45PM Opening Remarks - in the Gallery , currently on exhibit: Oceanus: Alexis Rockman - Mystic Seaport Museum Tobias Stapleton, Director, Blue Venture Forum Christina Brophy, Senior Director of Museum Galleries and Senior Vice President of Curatorial Affairs, Mystic Seaport Museum 4:45PM-5:30PM Panel Discussion, The Future of Blue Technology Moderator: Ted Janulis, Founder & Principal, Investible Oceans Panelists: Leslie-Ann McGee, Director, Special Projects, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)  Kendall Barbery, Director of Partnerships and Program Development, Greenwave Fletcher Blackmon, Director of Strategic Positioning, Autonomous & Undersea Systems, SAAB, Inc. Janna Chernetz, Senior Director, Global Government Affairs, Amogy 5:30PM-6:15PM The Next Generation of Blue Technologies, a discussion & Demonstration Facilitator: Tobias Stapleton, Director, Blue Venture Forum Speakers: Dr. Kevin Lopes, Director of Business Outreach and Strategy, ThayerMahan Allesandra Bianchi, Communications Director, Seatrac Deedee Chatham, Business Development, Jaia Robotics Kelly Echols, Founder, LeVanta Tech 6:15PM -7:00PM Reception & Networking

Join the Blue Venture Forum and Gulf of Maine Ventures for the Blue Venture Investment Summit-Portland, being held on November 9th at the Ocean Gateway, Portland, Maine. A special thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors! View Speaker, Moderator and Panelist Bios HERE. AGENDA 8:00AM-8:30AM Registration 8:30AM-8:40AM Welcome and Introductions Tobias Stapleton, Director, Blue Venture Forum Blaine Grimes, Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) 9:00AM-10:00AM  Blue Technology Investing Today Moderator: Hope Hopkins, Mitre Panelists: Justin Manley, OceanKind Jake Reznick, S2G Ventures Tim Agnew, Bold Ocean Ventures 10:00AM-10:30AM Networking Break 10:30AM-11:30AM  Raising an Investment Round in Today’s Environment       Moderator: Luke Holden, Luke’s Lobster Panelists: Sara Rademaker, American Unagi Mitch Lench, Ocean’s Balance Chip Terry, Blue Trace Erik Heim, Kathahdin Salmon              11:30AM-12:15PM  Flashtalks: Global Innovators and Entrepreneurs  Littoral Power Systems Salmonics LeVanta Tech Phytosmart Ocean Farmr Shred Electric Oneka Technologies Salient Predictions 12:15PM-1:00PM  Lunch 1:00PM-2:00PM Maine, A Case Study in Supporting and Growing a Blue Economy Ecosystem Moderator:  Blaine Grimes, Gulf of Maine Ventures Panelists: Nina Scheepers, Maine Venture Fund Chandler Jones, CEI Ventures Patrick Arnold, New England Ocean Cluster Jeff Frank, Island Institute 2:00PM-3:00PM  Flashtalks: Global Innovators and Entrepreneurs Jaia Robotics Axine Water Technologies Finsulate Acel Power Ashored Aloft Glas Ocean Electric Seachange Group, LLC 3:00PM-3:30PM Networking Break 3:30PM-4:15PM Seaweed Panel Moderator: Damian Brady, UMaine Panelists:  Bri Warner, Atlantic Sea Farms Colin Hepburn, Everything Seaweed Struan Coleman, WWF 4:15PM-5:00PM The Future of Investing in the Blue Economy Moderator: Toby Stapleton, Blue Venture Forum Panelists:  Julie Niedzwiecki, Great Mountain Partners (GMP) Daniel Sortica, Propeller Ted Janulis, Investible Oceans Brady Bohrmann, Bold Ocean Ventures 5:00PM-6:30PM Closing Reception

We will be holding the Blue Innovation Symposium from February 26-29, 2024 at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middletown, RI. BIS and BVIS 2024 Agenda Remember to book your room at Wyndham Newport, 240 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI. Overnight accommodations are available at the conference venue, Wyndham Newport, at a discounted rate. Reserve a room at: www.wyndhamnewportri.com and enter the group code 022724BLU or call the hotel directly at 401-236-2020 and mention the Blue Innovation Symposium.

Join the Blue Venture Forum and Gulf of Maine Ventures for the Blue Venture Investment Summit, taking place on November 13th at the Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine.

In 2025, the Blue Innovation Symposium, one of the premier Blue Economy events in the United States, will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Every year, the Blue Innovation Symposium brings together over 400 participants for three days of education, networking, and matchmaking.  Take advantage of early-bird rates and register today.

The Blue Innovation Summer Summit '25, co-sponsored by the New Bedford Ocean
Cluster (NBOC) and the Blue Venture Forum, Inc., is set to take place at the UMass Dartmouth School of Marine & Science Technology on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, from 1:00PM to 6:30PM. This event is designed to celebrate the advancements and initiatives happening in the region’s blue economy.

Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport, RI Join us for this special networking event to kickoff the Defense Investment Forum (DIF), brought to you by the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) and the Blue Venture Forum, Inc.  In addition to networking with key industry stakeholders, investors, and resource providers, it will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce’s soft-landing spot initiative. 4:30-5:15PM Registration & Networking 5:15-5:20PM Welcome Remarks 5:20-5:30PM Welcome from the Chamber, and overview of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce’s Soft-Landing Spot Initiative 5:30-5:45PM Overview of Defense Tech Investing 5:45-6:30PM Continued Networking This event is free, and brought to you by our sponsors, but registration is required. Thank you to the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce and Innovate Newport for making this event possible.    We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of connection, insight, and collaboration as we launch the Defense Investment Forum ’25.

The Blue Innovation Symposium brings together over 400 participants for three days of education, networking, and matchmaking.