PITCHFEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Sydney-based Ocean Impact Organisation (OIO) has today announced the Winners of the Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021, highlighting how innovation and ocean-focussed solutions can play a significant role in tackling the climate crisis and transforming the health of Planet Ocean.
As global leaders gather in Glasgow for the COP26 Climate Summit, the world anticipates ambitious goals and bold targets to slash greenhouse gas emissions and prevent runaway global warming. There’s big talk of the impact new technologies can play in addressing the climate crisis but little talk of the critical need to support, accelerate and invest in ocean health innovations that may just be the key to solving some of our greatest challenges.
This is the second year OIO have delivered The Ocean Impact Pitchfest in a bid to support and accelerate the best startups working to transform ocean health. The Pitchfest was presented by Bank Australia and HP Australia, who also supported the HP Generation Impact Incubator for young (35 and under) innovators residing in Australia.
With a total cash prize pool in excess of $150,000 and another $150,000 in product and support packages, Pitchfest 2021 received more than 200 applications from 45 countries and an additional 80 applications from young Australian entrepreneurs applying to the HP Generation Impact Incubator.
The Winner of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021: sea forest (AUSTRALIA)
The Winner of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 is Sea Forest, a Tasmanian startup pioneering the commercial production of asparagopsis seaweed, which, when fed in small quantities to livestock, can reduce methane emissions by 90%. Congratulations Sea Forest!
Sam Elsom, Co-founder and CEO of Sea Forest said, “It is such a great honour for a startup like Sea Forest to be named Winner of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021. Our goal has always been to make rapid progress and meaningful impact on climate change through emissions reduction. We have a long way to go but the support provided to the company through Ocean Impact Organisation will assist in driving Sea Forest to scale its IP in science and engineering to deliver a sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry, regional employment and educational opportunities and positive environmental outcomes for Planet Ocean”.
The First Runner Up of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest: saathi (INDIA)
The first Runner Up for The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 is Saathi, an Indian startup improving the lives and livelihoods of women and farmers with healthy, biodegradable and accessible sanitary pads created from banana tree waste - greatly reducing pollution and promoting a circular economy. Congratulations Saathi!
The Second Runner Up of The Ocean Impact Pitchfest: GREAT WRAP (AUSTRALIA)
The second Runner Up for The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 is Great Wrap, an Australian startup creating compostable plastic (cling) film from food waste with the goal of making the in-demand product ocean friendly by being completely marine biodegradable. Congratulations Great Wrap!
The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 received 215 applications from startups operating in 45 countries with 12 shortlisted Finalists announced on 12th October. The other nine Finalists (in alphabetical order) were: Ace Aquatec (UK); Aquaai (Norway); Atlantic Sea Farms (USA); Better Packaging Co. (NZ); Firetail Robotics (Australia); Litterati (USA); Matter. (UK); nextProtein (Netherlands); Pinovo AS (Norway).
To read more The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 Finalists head here.
The Winner of HP Generation Impact Incubator
The Winner of the HP Generation Impact Incubator is Emile Theau, a nanotechnology engineer and co-founder of Sine Surf, who have developed patented technology to create sustainable surfboards using wood, that results in 1/12th of the plastic waste of conventional surfboards.
Congratulations to Emile and the Sine Surf team!
Emile Theau, Winner of the HP Generation Impact Incubator said of his award, “To be named as the Winner of the Generation Impact Incubator is an absolute dream come true. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to have our initiative Sine Surf recognised in such a way and can say without doubt that my inspiration and determination has reached new levels! I’m dying to dig into the knowledge and resources available so that our initiative can immediately begin saving waste and reducing emissions to improve ocean health”.
Watch Emile Theau’s pitch video below:
The First Runner Up of HP Generation Impact Incubator: SIAN MURRAY
The first Runner Up of Generation Impact is Sian Murray, a digital marketing specialist and co-founder of Pleasant State, who are on a mission to reduce plastic waste and promote the reuse economy with refillable, accessible and ocean friendly cleaning product solutions. Congratulations Sian!
Watch Sian Murray’s pitch video below.
The Second Runner Up of HP Generation Impact Pitchfest: CURTIS SCIACCA
The second Runner Up of Generation Impact is Curtis Sciacca, co-founder of Nurtured.Co, which aims to restore and rejuvenate coral reefs worldwide by using new age technologies that enhance artificial reef growth.
Watch Curtis Sciacca’s pitch video below.
The other five Finalists include (in alphabetical order): Annette McClelland (Tekuma), Lottie Dalziel (Banish), Josh Howard (Single Use Ain’t Sexy), Joshua Castle (Blue Symbiosis), Maria Isable Toasa Cordero (Em Energy).
For OIO Co-founder and CEO Nick Chiarelli, the quantity and quality of startups and entrepreneurs applying to Pitchfest 2021 and to the HP Generation Impact Incubator, provides cause for great optimism for the long term future of the ocean. “In 2021 we saw a huge increase in the number of Pitchfest applications from later stage startups scaling up or on the verge of scaling up the impact of their solutions. Applicants to Pitchfest 2021 have raised a total of almost USD$350mil of investment capital vs USD$65mil in Pitchfest 2020. This is a solid increase, but we need much more support and capital if we're to successfully transform ocean health. Along with our partners around the world we’ll keep working hard to make sure that passionate ocean impact founders get the support and funding that they need to accelerate their impact”.
Mike Boyle, Managing Director of HP Australia and New Zealand said of the results and being a member of the Generation Impact Incubator judging panel, “It is inspiring to see the passion our Winner and two Runners-Up have for not only their innovation, but to make a real difference to our climate and oceans. We are excited to provide Sine Surf with access to funding, technology, and expert mentorship from HP and OIO, to help them see their idea grow to not only transform ocean health but make surfing a more sustainable activity for all to enjoy.”
In addition to the Pitchfest and Generation Impact results, a number of other awards were announced including four Spotlight Awards for solutions addressing key ocean challenges. These include: the Sustainable Ocean Harvesting Spotlight Award presented by Austral Fisheries being awarded to nextProtein from France who develop insect based protein products from food waste to help feed the future. The impact of such technology is profound whereby one tonne of insect based fish meal can save three tonnes of wild caught fish from being used in some aquaculture settings. Congratulations nextProtein!
The Ocean Monitoring Spotlight Award presented by Dicker Data was awarded to Firetail Robotics from Australia who develop innovative artificial intelligence technology to help monitor fish populations. Existing techniques to monitor fish populations require baited equipment and hours of human effort whereas Firetail’s ‘Lagoon AI Camera Orb’ can automate underwater fish ID and measurement in real time.
The ZIP Water sponsored Plastic Pollution Spotlight Award went to Saathi and the Climate Spotlight Award funded by OIO’s philanthropic community went to Sea Forest.
Fiona Nixon, Head of Strategy at Bank Australia, who was also a member of the Pitchfest 2021 judging panel said, “It’s critically important that innovative solutions to improve ocean health are part of the conversation concerning the climate and environmental emergency and how we build a fair, sustainable and inclusive economy. We are thrilled to be a Major Partner of OIO and to see the great progress they are making through programs like Pitchfest. Congratulations to all of the Winners, Finalists and applicants this year - keep up the great work.”
Tim Silverwood, Co-founder of OIO said of Pitchfest and the role of the organisation, “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the crisis facing the ocean, global biodiversity, inequality and our fragile climate, particularly when action by governments and those with the greatest means to enact bold change is lacking. What I love most about Pitchfest and the work of OIO is that we focus less on the problems and more on the solutions. We know that problems exist and we know that solutions are out there but need help to reach their full potential. Let’s quit wasting precious time talking about the problems and instead help the best solutions to scale - and fast!”
To watch The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 Finale Event where all of the announcements were made please visit here or watch the clip below.