Increasing U.S. demand for offshore wind power is creating greater pressure on the industry to promote innovation, opportunity and new business growth. That is why for the third straight year Oceantic Network has partnered with SeaAhead, a bluetech innovation platform, to present Startup Alley at the 2024 International Partnering Forum and give new companies the opportunity to share transformative and disruptive technologies, processes, and products that are building the future of offshore wind.
This year 10 promising startup companies will present their offshore wind technologies, products, and services at Startup Alley in New Orleans, April 22-25 (IPF Week). Startup Alley provides an outlet for these businesses to pitch their innovations to a focused audience to gain broader visibility in the supply chain.
The innovative startups are introducing new ways to reduce costs and streamline efficiencies while improving sustainability across multiple facets of the industry’s supply chain. New technologies cover areas including construction operations, deep-sea anchors, Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), 3D printing, data-driven digital platforms, technical meteorology models, wave energy conversion, and workforce development.
“The offshore wind and ocean renewables industry is evolving rapidly and going through a sea change. There is an urgent need for more efficient products, better services, an enhanced supply chain, and a more diverse and well-trained talent pool,” said Liz Burdock, President & CEO of Oceantic Network. “Our partnership with SeaAhead gives startup companies a platform to pitch their innovations to thousands of attendees, helping them grow their business and build the supply chain.
“As the offshore renewables industry evolves, we are excited to see fresh perspectives on how innovation can address new challenges and opportunities,” said SeaAhead Program Manager Hailey Bathurst. “Startup Alley at IPF is an excellent opportunity for startups to meet potential customers, partners and regulators, gaining visibility they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Startup Alley companies will present their pitches to IPF attendees over two days at the conference. Join us and learn more on Wednesday, April 24 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 25 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. on the Startup Alley stage in the Exhibit Hall. View the full IPF agenda.
New Tools to Support a Growing Labor Pool
While startups and new technologies may conjure images of robotics and autonomous vessels, one Startup Alley company is focused on the people of offshore wind. IWNL Energy, a workforce development consultancy, wants to help scale up a skilled labor pool to meet the industry’s growing employment needs. As part of its mission to help build and support a skilled and knowledgeable workforce, IWNL Energy has developed the Energy Career Navigator, designed to help individuals align their skills, interests, and career goals within the offshore wind and renewable energy sectors.
“We’re excited to participate in Startup Alley at IPF! This opportunity offers IWNL Energy a unique platform to showcase the Energy Career Navigator, our leading innovation aimed at advancing career awareness and workforce development in the offshore wind industry,” said Dr. Cynthia Brown, CEO of IWNL Energy. “Our presentation will demonstrate the Navigator’s approach to career exploration and how its data will benefit developers, governmental agencies, workforce development organizations, colleges, and training centers.”
This new tool adds to the company’s existing work to support a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. IWNL Energy uses approaches such as role definition and streamlined recruitment to unlock results like reduced attrition and new cross-selling capabilities.
IWNL Energy’s Startup Alley presentation adds to an existing lineup of workforce development-focused conversations taking place across IPF Week. Attendees can participate in several workshops on this topic, as well as the all-day Workforce Summit, taking place Tuesday, April 23 at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, adjacent to the Morial Convention Center.
Operational Efficiency Reduces Costs
Another of this year’s promising and innovative Startup Alley companies, EcoWind Solutions, is a 100% women-owned business that has developed a new project management platform focused exclusively on the needs of offshore wind. The company is not only building an innovative software platform available to organizations of all sizes, but it is also blazing a path for women leaders in this industry.
“EcoWind Solutions exemplifies the critical role of diversity and innovation within the offshore wind industry. As a startup business entirely owned by women, our participation extends beyond mere involvement; we are establishing a new standard for female leadership in green technology,” said Nadia Adam, founder of EcoWind Solutions. “Our platform is dedicated to operational efficiency and meticulously engineered to ensure equitable access, enabling businesses of all sizes, from multinational corporations to micro enterprises, to operate on a level playing field.
EcoWind specializes in IoT (Internet of Things) systems, which can be applied to monitor various aspects of an offshore wind project, from vessel health and turbine conditions to environmental compliance. The company’s newest innovation uses IoT sensing and advanced machine learning to transform welding automation and provide operators with greater control. This process automation enhances efficiency and collaboration across all project phases.
“At Startup Alley, EcoWind Solutions will demonstrate the platform’s comprehensive capabilities in project management, spanning from initiation, installation, and maintenance of wind farms to facilitating effortless collaboration across the entire supply chain and underscoring our commitment to streamlining project execution in the renewable energy sector,” added Elina Khutoryanski, Co-Founder of EcoWind Solutions.
The platform allows smaller organizations access to the same tools and resources as larger companies, giving equal opportunity and access to organizations of all sizes.
Experience how these platforms and the other nine selected presenters can help guide the offshore wind industry into the future during Startup Alley at IPF week.
