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Blue Bio Value Acceleration is an acceleration programme promoted by Oceano Azul Foundation, committed to accelerate the transition to a global and sustainable blue bioeconomy by helping entrepreneurs create commercially viable and sustainable businesses. More specifically, Blue Bio Value Acceleration seeks solutions in the marine bioresources value chain that can scale-up to market applications in different industries and help tackle global societal challenges.

Yes, every initiative should have at least one startup member attending. The programme is not fulltime, and we are mindful that you need time to work on your daily company topics. Our commitment to you is making these 9 weeks truly count.

In the final 2 weeks of the programme, all participating startups are expected to be present in Portugal for the 2 weeks, by a maximum of 2 team members, where at least one must be a company founder. A stipend for travel and accommodation costs will be provided to the participants (see below for further info on the amounts available).

• Access to the internet;
• 1 computer with camera and audio.

• A 9-week acceleration programme that represents a unique growth opportunity, structured in a tailor-made approach focused on access to funding, overcoming legal barriers, overhauling business models, user research and journey, product development, sales and marketing, amongst others.
• Workshops and practical cases with experts from different sectors and backgrounds, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, investors, professors, and many others.
• Individual pitch practice.
• Access to Blue Bio Value’s high-level network that will guide the startups on specific aspects of their business and help them reach their company’s goals, including 1-to-1 investor and mentorship sessions. Learn more about our mentors here.
• Possibility of winning a prize of up to 45 000 € to be spend in Blue Demo Network services.
• Network of commercial partners, within processing and manufacturing industries and some of the best research and technology centres in Europe.
• Access to a set of perks, including the 1-year membership in BlueBio Alliance, the Portuguese Network of marine bioresources and blue biotechnology, which gives you access to several benefits.
• 2 weeks in Portugal to participate in field trips amongst key local ecosystem players and attend the Blue Bio Value Final Pitch Day.
• The programme will award the winning startups with 45 000€, which must be spend in the Blue Demo Network.
• Ongoing support for 12 weeks after the end of the programme to support you overcome business growth challenges.
• Additional details to the programme offer may be updated until launch.

Blue Bio Value Acceleration follows a hybrid model. The first 7 weeks will be held remotely (September 23 to November 8), while the final 2 weeks (November 18 to November 29) will encompass in-person visits of the startups’ founders to Portugal, allowing participants to explore and build relations with the local blue bio ecosystem.

Each startup participant will receive a grant to cover the travelling and accommodation costs of the in-person weeks in Portugal. The amounts provided depend on the geographical location of the teams and cover a maximum of two people per startup. The payment contribution to each participant is as follows:

• Portuguese-based teams: 600€ (six hundred euros) per person.
• EU-based teams: 1 000€ (one thousand euros) per person.
• Non-EU based teams: 1 800€ (one thousand and eight hundred euros) per person.

In the impossibility of hosting founders in Portugal, Blue Bio Value will activate a contingency plan to replicate the initiatives in an online format.

Blue Bio Value 2024 comprises 7 (seven) phases:

1. Applications: between April 1 and May 20 at 11:59pm GMT+1.
2. Selection and interviews: between May 20 and July 31.
3. Decision and communication of participants: by July 31.
4. Acceleration support (remote): between September 23 and November 8.
5. Acceleration support (in Lisbon): between November 18 and November 29.
6. Final Pitch Day: between November 18 and November 29.
7. Ongoing support: between December 2 and February 21.

Blue Demo Network is a technological platform that brings together, in a single and easy access point, a series of Portuguese infrastructures and services, suitable for blue tech-based startups and SMEs. Its main goal is to promote and make accessible to startups all over the world the means to test and demonstrate the functionalities of their solutions and boost the Portuguese blue bioeconomy.

Even though the Blue Bio Value Acceleration is a 9-week programme, after the programme we will be here to support you overcome your business growth challenges for the following 12 weeks after the end of the acceleration period. All participating startups will join the Blue Bio Value Alumni Community and will have a BlueBio Alliance Membership, including access to the BlueBio Alliance benefits for 1 year.

The monetary prize of Blue Bio Value Acceleration shall be used in services provided under the Blue Demo Network, that can range from access to ponds, labs and office spaces, to technical and scientific studies or even support services such as IP, legal and business advice. The winners just need to contact BlueBio Alliance with their planned needs and BlueBio Alliance will analyse the request and mediate contact with the appropriate infrastructures/service providers. BlueBio Alliance will be responsible for negotiating the terms and for all administrative related work, the winners just need to focus on growing their startup! BlueBio Alliance can also provide extra support in matching Blue Bio Value companies with local partners to boost their market reach through its extensive national and international networks.

We encourage teams to participate with a minimum of 2 (two) and a maximum of 4 (four) elements. However, we are open to accepting exceptions when relevant. One of the team members actively participating needs to be a founder of the project.

We will help you with everything you need, but in return we ask for total dedication to the programme. That means you will need to attend all initiatives, including the final pitch day.

Not directly. However, throughout the programme you will be exposed to a wide network of potential investors, and if you are one of the Blue Bio Value Acceleration’s winners you will earn a prize that can go up to 45 000€ to be used in the Blue Demo Network.

No, we just need your commitment and energy to make a difference in the world. There is also no equity taken.

Each startup participant will receive an amount to support the in-person weeks in Portugal. The amounts provided depend on the geographical location of the teams and cover a maximum of two people per startup. The maximum payment contribution to each participant will be:

• Portuguese-based teams: 600€ (six hundred euros) per person
• EU-based teams: 1,000€ (one thousand euros) per person
• Non-EU based teams: 1,800€ (one thousand and eight hundred euros) per person

Blue Bio Value Acceleration looks for aspiring and committed entrepreneurs who can develop commercially viable projects along the value chain of marine bioresources. Companies applying must comply with the following criteria:

• Intentionally aiming to create positive impact in the marine world through the usage of sustainable and responsible sourcing and/or production methods;
• Preferably using high/deep (bio) technologies;
• Preferably leading to scalable high value/high tech-based products/services/solutions;
• Targeted for the global market;
• Established company prepared to enter the market or already in the market;
• Having a fulltime team, with at least one of the co-founders working full time;
• Projects with TRL 5 or superior that can demonstrate high potential to rapidly scale up to viable market applications. [TRL: Technology Readiness Level, read more about it here.]

No. Your startup may have any viable market application; however, we are looking for marine bioresources-based solutions which ensure and/or promote a sustainable use of the ocean.

Yes. Blue Bio Value Acceleration believes that the blue bioeconomy can help tackle different global societal challenges by promoting sustainable food systems; contribute to mitigate and adapt to climate change; preserve natural ecosystems; improve health and human well-being; reduce plastic pollution; create sustainable and inclusive jobs and enhance a circular bioeconomy growth model, among others that you are welcome to show us.

Blue Bio Value Acceleration aims at attracting entrepreneurs with innovative projects that represent a business opportunity along the value chain of marine bioresources, including, but not limited to, biotechnology-based projects. By marine bioresources, we mean marine based biomaterials and processes which are naturally and sustainably renewable and biodegradable and that include a wide range of technologies and elements such as biomass, biological treatment, bioenergy, biotransformation, bioremediation, among others.

This is what you are looking for, Blue Bio Value Ideation.

Yes. Blue Bio Value is a global-oriented programme, and we accept citizens from all nationalities and companies based anywhere in the world. However, we strive to have a cohort with a time zone span no wider than 6 hours (GMT+1).

Yes, you are. By joining our programme with some previous experience, you will understand our value and will help us to tailor-made our offer according to your needs.

We communicate the results to all candidates until July 31, 2024.