Program: Growing a Blue Technology Startup When: September 15, 2022, 3:00PM-4:30PM, networking reception to follow Where: Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport, RI. Join us at 3:00PM on September 15th, at Innovate Newport, for the Blue Venture Forum’s “Growing a Blue Technology Startup” panel discussion. 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.  During this panel discussion, co-founders and representatives of promising blue technology startups will discuss their experience raising an investment and working with investors, bringing a product to market, identifying customers, working with strategic partners, and more. The startups featured on this panel have collectively raised over $8 million in investment to bring their innovative solutions to market. Panelists- Ian Estaphan Owen, Co-Founder & CEO, Jaia Robotics, Inc. https://www.jaia.tech/- Ray Schmitt, Co-Founder & President, Salient Predictions, https://www.salientpredictions.com/- Rusty Warren, Co-Founder & CEO, Armada Marine Robotics, https://armadamarinerobotics.com/- Alessandra Bianchi, Communications Director, SeaTrac, https://seatrac.com/ Panel Moderator: Toby Stapleton, Director, Blue Venture Forum

Discover Global Markets business development forum is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s flagship event series for U.S. exporters. The forum features a dynamic mix of plenary sessions, topical round-tables, prescheduled one-on-one meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats, buyers and ministry officials from key markets around the globe, and plenty of networking!

  Topic: Blue Tech Investment, a Roundtable Discussion When: October 3, from 10-11:00AM, coffee to follow Where: Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport, RI. Join the Blue Venture Forum at 10:00AM on October 3, at Innovate Newport, for a panel discussion on the state of investment in blue technology. Southern New England has long been the epicenter for marine technology startups. Many of these startups have spun out of the research being developed at key institutions like the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), the University of Rhode Island (URI), and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Until recently, the only path to funding for most of these startups was bootstrapping or government funding, particularly through the SBIR program. However, today, institutional investors, including Venture Capital and Angels, along with corporates are now making strategic investments which are fueling the development of innovations to address the major challenges in ocean exploration, aquaculture, traditional fisheries, defense, undersea communications, climate monitoring, and more. During this discussion, we will hear directly from investors about why they’re investing in blue technology firms, discuss the companies and technologies they’re investing in, learn what it takes to secure an investment from one of these investors, and hear what they see as emerging opportunities in the sector.  This event is being held in partnership with Innovate Newport as part of RI Startup Week. Panelists: - Thorne Sparkman, Managing Director, Slater Technology Fund, Inc., https://slaterfund.com/- Neil Hamel, Head of US Ventures and Open Innovation, Orsted, https://openinnovation.orsted.com/- David Ford, Investor, Blue Angels, https://www.sea-ahead.com/blue-angels- Adam de Sola Pool, Investor, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampool- Jeffrey Smith, Vice President and General Manager, Unmanned Undersea Systems, SAAB, Inc., https://www.saab.com/products/security/underwater-systems Panel Moderator: Toby Stapleton, Director, Blue Venture Forum