Building for the oceans and the people that depend on them
Introducing the
blue action accelerator
For low-lying island nations like the Bahamas, climate change has become very real.
In 2019, the Category-5 Hurricane Dorian ravaged through the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, killing more than 200 people. The resultant damage to these islands was catastrophic and ran to the multiple billions of dollars; most structures were flattened or swept to sea, and leaving at least 70,000 people homeless.
Whilst hurricanes have always been an existential risk in the Caribbean, their frequency and intensity will undoubtedly continue to increase due to climate change. And this is just one of many threats posed by our planet’s changing temperatures to island nations, coastal communities and other ocean-dependent populations
As sea levels continue to rise, on top of increasing storm surge, nations like The Bahamas face more persistent coastal flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of communities. Meanwhile, coral reefs, mangroves and other coastal marine ecosystems that provide vital services are at continued risk of decline due to ocean acidification from warming waters.
The time for action has never been more pressing. If there is one thing we would like to be clear on: in the response to the climate crisis, for nations like the Bahamas, issues of mitigation and adaptation need to be addressed simultaneously.
As an answer to these needs and opportunities, we have launched a pre-seed and seed impact investment program for technology startups working at the ‘climate x ocean’ nexus.
Our offer is deliberately designed to dramatically increase the odds of success for companies at the earliest of stages. We provide a $150,000 investment alongside a six-month program of bespoke support from expert operators and access to a global network of investors, corporate partners,technologists, as well as public and private markets. Founders Factory has experience building over 300 companies globally, including a number in the climate and sustainability space.
And most distinctively, we provide a real world opportunity to come and test technologies and systems so that they might be more rapidly proven, structured, financed, and applied at meaningful scales.
We do this via the Blue Action Lab by working with the aligned Government of The Bahamas, who have been huge advocates for our mission. We have a strategic relationship with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the world-class industrial maritime infrastructure within the 260 sq mile free trade zone of Freeport. We know how challenging it is for startups to obtain licences, navigate regulatory requirements, and win procurement contracts. Our program will focus on helping portfolio companies demonstrate the validity of their solutions in the natural environment and with governments.
We’ve been doing this already with Earthshot Prize winners, Coral Vita. And in addition to our hubs in The Bahamas, we are building a global network of public-private partnerships to facilitate rapid real-world testing for our portfolio, from Miami-Dade County to San Diego and the Port of Los Angeles, the Sea of Cortez to Monaco and beyond.
We believe in the power
of technology
our partners
A dedicated team of expert operators and innovators
Plugging into Founders Factory’s global platform of builders and operators, we deliver an unrivalled bespoke-to-you support program designed to realise your startup’s growth objectives.