Call for Applications: SeaAhead and Ørsted will select eight startups to give 5-minute pitches before an audience of offshore wind and blue economy stakeholders in the Northeast. Applicants will also be eligible to receive one of up to three one-year SeaAhead Startup Community Memberships, sponsored by Ørsted.
This showcase will be held in person at CIC Providence. Priority will be given to applicants either located in the Northeast or able to travel to the event. Startups working on solutions to challenges across the offshore wind sector are welcome to apply. Read about possible innovation areas here.
The United States’ East Coast is beginning to harness the enormous energy potential of offshore wind. As these projects come to fruition, the interface between ocean, land, and operations along our coasts and at sea is becoming more and more important. With the number of turbines set to increase substantially in the coming years and decades, other less visible and understood infrastructure – such as undersea cables, substations, and staging areas for farm construction – is also needed to connect that clean power to the existing energy grid.
This once-in-a-generation opportunity for our coastal communities will see increased economic activity and infrastructure investment that can benefit numerous stakeholders. In this burgeoning sector, innovation can play a new role to reduce costs, ensure sustainable development, and mitigate potential conflicts along the ocean, coastal, and land interfaces.
Could offshore wind be your next big growth opportunity?
Startups are developing solutions to an array of challenges in the offshore wind sector and can help drive an effective, competitive, and responsible industry on the East Coast. However, it is often difficult for startups to gain traction in the offshore wind industry, as the supply chain can be hesitant to rely on innovations without a long history of implementation. Startups need to find appropriate entry points to gain access to pilot opportunities that will allow them to prove their concepts and value to developers and service providers. The purpose of this innovation showcase is to give visibility to novel solutions and make it easier for startups and corporate offshore wind stakeholders to build relationships.