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Startup Alley

Apply to Pitch

Ready to apply? Deadline Extended! Applications are due January 19, 2024.
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Questions?

Have questions about your application? Contact the SeaAhead team.
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How does it work? 

Any startup working on solutions to challenges across the offshore wind and marine renewables industries is welcome to apply. You must be able to attend 2024 IPF (April 22-25) in New Orleans to deliver your pitch in-person. Participants have two opportunities to “speed-pitch” their innovations on a dedicated stage in the Exhibit Hall. 

Note that if your application is accepted, there is a participation fee of $1,495 to be included in Startup Alley. Additional staff can register for a rate of $1,595. 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your submission is accepted, you will receive an email with details about your contract and how to register for 2024 IPF. All businesses will receive coaching from SeaAhead to prepare you for your pitch presentations.
 

How does my business benefit?

If your application is accepted, there is a participation fee of $1,495 to be included in Startup Alley. This fee includes: 

  • Coaching and guidance from SeaAhead staff
  • Designated stand in Startup Alley at 2024 IPF
  • Dedicated presentation times on the Startup Alley stage during the event
  • Promotion in IPF marketing emails and on IPF website (2024IPF.com)
  • Marketing kit to promote your participation in Startup Alley
  • (1) Complimentary 2024 IPF conference registration ($2,595 value). You will have access to the whole conference, including workshops, networking events, and the exhibit hall.
  • (1) Discounted additional 2024 IPF conference registration for just $1,395 ($2,595 value)

Timeline

  • November 15, 2023: Applications open 
  • Deadline extended! January 19, 2024: Applications close 
  • February 2024: Winners are notified and SeaAhead works with accepted companies to help perfect pitches 
  • April 22-25: Companies present pitches at 2024 IPF in New Orleans 

Examples of Innovation Areas

  • Offshore Wind and Power-To-X (New!)

    New markets are starting to emerge for green hydrogen, ammonia, methane, and other power-to-x outputs. In many of these processes, including energy storage, offshore wind has the potential to play a valuable role. There are still many unknowns around what these energy conversion strategies will look like and what opportunities will result in safe and effective green energy solutions. 

  • Integration of Wave / Tidal/ Thermal Energy (New!)

    As offshore wind projects are developed, there’s an opportunity to utilize their infrastructure to harness other renewable marine energy sources, such as wave, tidal, or thermal. These energy sources are still early in their development, and require testing, demonstration, and industrialization so that they can be manufactured on a greater scale and incorporated into offshore wind collection.  

  • Decarbonizing the Supply Chain 

    International and U.S. state and federal goals, as well as corporate policies adopted by several project developers and Tier 1 component manufacturers, are driving decarbonization of the entire economy. This category seeks new technologies, industrial processes, and business models that can be implemented to drive the decarbonization of the offshore wind supply chain itself and make projects greener. 

  • Delivering the Future 

    From workforce training to community awareness, technology innovation is enabling the offshore wind industry to prepare workers and include communities that have been left of the energy industry in the past. Worker training and community engagement are prime for the use of visual technology innovation. The possibilities are endless for start-ups and entrepreneurs to deliver the future without ever having to go offshore.   

  • Environmental Technologies  

    Offshore wind projects have an average 10+ year development time cycle, from permitting to construction. Environmental technologies using AI, IoT applications, acoustical and other environmental mitigation techniques can reduce development time frames and risks – innovations in this area are industry game changers.   

  • Green and Efficient Ports  

    Smart, safe, efficient, and sustainable ports are critical to the success of offshore wind. Carbon-neutral ports offer a wide range of opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. New technologies like blockchain, autonomous shipping, logistical software, carbon neutral vessels, and IoT applications can be used to build the green port of the future today. 
     

  • Grid and Transmission 

    “Smart from the start” should not just be applied to offshore wind permitting – it should also be the mantra used for the development of the offshore wind grid and transmission. A smart grid powered by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Utility Internet of Things (UIofT), and Internet of Things Services and People (IoTSP) applications allows for integrating more renewable energy, maintaining grid stability, increasing resiliency, and improving security.  

     

  • Maintenance & Repair  

    Operations and maintenance account for 18.9% of the total cost of an offshore wind project. Innovations from deep sea mining and deep space exploration such as drones, remote diagnostics, weather forecasting, and self-healing technologies can reduce these costs while increasing worker safety and enabling offshore wind projects to be developed further offshore. 

     

Sponsor

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Media Partner

Offshore

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

900 Convention Center BoulevardNew Orleans, LA 70130

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