BlueInvest Day 2023

 

The 2023 edition of BlueInvest Day took place on Thursday, 09 March 2023 in Brussels. 

Following the successful conclusion of BlueInvest Day 2023, participants celebrated a gathering where blue economy innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors convened. Attendees were immersed in impactful investor-to-project matching sessions, engaged in discussions surrounding the scaling of financing for a sustainable blue economy, and explored funding opportunities through reverse pitches from active funds. Also, the first edition of the BlueInvest Investor Report was unveiled. 

 

Winners of the BlueInvest Awards

  • FLASC B.V., Category I: Net Zero and Decarbonisation
  • Eden Tech, Category II: Circular Economy and Preventing Ocean Pollution
  • Next Tuna GmbH, Category III: Sustainable Food and Feed from the Ocean, 
  • Sundew, Category IV: Blue (Bio)Tech and Ocean Observation
  • Eden Tech, People's Choice Awards

Discover all the BlueInvest Day materials and recording in our Knowledge Center here (login required).

BlueInvest Awards 2023

The 2023 BlueInvest Awards featured a pitch battle with 16 SMEs and start-ups in the 4 categories below.

CATEGORY I: NET ZERO AND DECARBONISATION

This category covers innovative technologies in the field of green shipping, shipyard and ports as well as ocean renewable energy, from offshore wind to wave energy to hydrogen solutions.

Award Finalists

BlueNav

Exowave ApS

FLASC B.V. (WINNER)

Seares SRL

---

CATEGORY II: CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND PREVENTING OCEAN POLLUTION

This category covers next generation technologies, products, and circular models in the field of marine waste and water management, ocean pollution reduction, and preservation and regeneration of marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Award Finalists

Eden Tech (WINNER)

Northern Light Composites (nlcomp)

Titanium Technology

GREENOV-ITES

---

CATEGORY III: SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FEED FROM THE OCEAN

This category covers innovative new food and feed from aquaculture, fisheries and renewable aquatic biological resources (alternative seafood, alternative food & feed, alternative proteins, marine, flora and seaweed).

Award Finalists

AlgaeforFood

Bluana Foods

Mediterranean Algae Technologies SL

Next Tuna GmbH (WINNER)

---

CATEGORY IV: BLUE (BIO)TECH & OCEAN OBSERVATION

This category covers new products, (bio)technologies and AI-based solutions aimed at producing knowledge, goods, and services for the ocean including measurement, observation and forecasting of the ocean and human activity on the ocean for all purposes.

Award Finalists

EYEGAUGE

FREGATA SPACE

SCALE

Sundew (WINNER)

---

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Eden Tech

 

 

Agenda 2023

09 March 2023

09:00 – 10:00

INVESTOR BREAKFAST

By invitation only. Commissioner Sinkevičius, MEP Pierre KARLESKIND, EIF Deputy CEO Mr. Roger Havenith, and EIB key officers will meet with select investors and fund managers.

10:00 – 10:45

 

OPENING SESSION

Moderator: Daniela CEDOLA, Partner, BlueInvest

 

Introduction and welcome

 

Keynote addresses

· Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans & Fisheries

· Roger HAVENITH, Deputy CEO, European Investment Fund (EIF)

· Ricardo MOURINHO FÉLIX, Vice President for the Blue Economy, European Investment Bank (EIB)

 

Opening of the Event and the “Deals Exchange Floor”

10:45 – 11:15

BLUEINVEST INVESTOR REPORT

Presenters: Renata PELOSO and Martin POULSEN, BlueInvest

11:15 – 12:15

EXPERT PANEL: MOBILISING CAPITAL FOR THE SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY: WHAT MESSAGES FOR 2023 AND BEYOND?

This session will address the topic of increasing mobilisation of capital for the sustainable blue economy, discussing returns, new financing models, high potential innovation and opportunities, from the perspectives of investors and policy makers.  

Moderator: Daniela CEDOLA, Partner, BlueInvest

Speakers:

· Antje BIBER, Head of SDG Office, FERI

· Antonella CALVIA-GOTZ, Lead Advisor in Space & Ocean Technologies, European Investment Bank (EIB)

· Alberto CASORATI, Investment Officer, European Investment Bank (EIB)

· Adelaide CRACCO, Head of Climate and Environmental Impact, European Investment Fund (EIF)

· Chris GORELL BARNES, Founding Partner, Ocean 14

· Olivier RAYBAUD, Managing Director, SWEN Capital Partners

12:15 – 13:15

NETWORKING LUNCH

13:15 – 14:00

BLUEINVEST AWARDS | PITCH CATEGORY I: NET ZERO AND DECARBONISATION

This category covers innovative technologies in the field of green shipping, shipyard and ports as well as ocean renewable energy, from offshore wind to wave energy to hydrogen solutions.4 candidates pitching to a jury panel.

Finalists:

· Mathilde GOMBEAUD, Managing Director, BlueNav (FR)

· Gabriele RAMPINELLI, Partner, Exowave ApS (DK)

· Daniel BUHAGIAR, Co-founder & CEO, FLASC B.V. (NL)

· Giorgio CUCÈ, Co-founder & CEO, Seares SRL (IT)

Jury Panel:

· Ignasi FERRER PELLICER, Founder & CEO, Seastainable Ventures

· Clyde HUTCHINSON, Partner, Team ABC Ventures

· Mevin KISTNASSAMY, Founding Partner, Blue Pelican Capital

· Rita SOUSA, Partner, Faber Ocean / Climate Tech

14:00 – 14:45

BLUEINVEST AWARDS | PITCH CATEGORY II: CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND PREVENTING OCEAN POLLUTION

This category covers next generation technologies, products, and circular models in the field of marine waste and water management, ocean pollution reduction, and preservation and regeneration of marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Finalists:

· Emmanuel ROY, CEO, Eden Tech (FR)

· Fabio BIGNOLINI, Co-founder and CEO, Northern Light Composites (nlcomp) (IT)

· Alejandro SAMANIEGO, Founder and CEO, Titanium Technology (ES)

· Damien DEMOOR, CEO, GREENOV-ITES (FR)

Jury Panel:

· Pierre ERWES, Partner & Deal flow and strategic partnerships, Blue Forward Fund

· Ingrid MAURSTAD, Commercial Manager, Katapult Ocean

· Celine SCHULZE, Co-Founder & CEO, Narwhale Ventures

· Sylvain TABONI, Investment Director, BNP Paribas SA

14:45 – 15:00

COFFEE BREAK

15:00 – 15:45

BLUEINVEST AWARDS | PITCH CATEGORY III: SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FEED FROM THE OCEAN

This category covers innovative new food and feed from aquaculture, fisheries and renewable aquatic biological resources (alternative seafood, alternative food & feed, alternative proteins, marine, flora and seaweed).

Finalists:

· Ewoud DE VOOGD, Founder and CEO, AlgaeforFood (NL)

· Florin IRIMESCU, Founder and CEO, Bluana Foods (RO)

· Yago SIERRAS, CEO, Mediterranean Algae Technologies SL (ES)

· Andrew ECKHARDT, Co-Founder, Next Tuna GmbH (DE)

Jury Panel:

· Thomas GIEHM, Investment Manager, Aqua-Spark

· Francisco SARAIVA GOMES, Chief Investment Officer, Ocean 14

· Olivier RAYBAUD, Managing Director, SWEN Capital Partners

· Jean-François TRECCO, Mediterranean Pole, Mer Angels

15:45 – 16:30

BLUEINVEST AWARDS | PITCH CATEGORY IV: BLUE (BIO)TECH & OCEAN OBSERVATION

This category covers new products, (bio)technologies and AI-based solutions aimed at producing knowledge, goods, and services for the ocean including measurement, observation and forecasting of the ocean and human activity on the ocean for all purposes.

Finalists:

· Rodion DENISYUK, Founder and CEO, EYEGAUGE (FR)

· Maria Fernanda GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ, Founder and CEO, FREGATA SPACE (ES)

· Edouard DE DREUZY, Co-Founder and GM, SCALE (FR)

· Neil GOLDSMITH, Founder, Sundew (DK)

Jury Panel:

· Markus BOEHM, CEO, Planet Ocean Fund

· Anne LEBRETON-WOLF, Partner, Good Only Ventures

· John TRYGVE BERG, Partner, Technology, Energy and Sustainability, Sarsia

· Carlos ESTEBAN, Partner, Faber Ocean / Climate Tech

16:30 – 17:00

REVERSE PITCH: BLUE INVESTORS

Spotlight on investors with open rounds

· Georg BAUNACH, Managing Partner, HATCH

· Carlos ESTEBAN, Partner, Faber Ocean / Climate Tech

· Nityen Ranjan LAL, Managing Director, Icos Capital Management BV

· Frédéric LEGUILLOU, Investment Director, GO CAPITAL

17:00 – 17:20

BLUEINVEST AWARDS

17:20 – 17:30

CONCLUSION | CLOSING REMARKS

17:30

COCKTAIL RECEPTION | NETWORKING DRINKS