Finland's Top Blue Economy accelerator unveils:
the Venture Challenge
A'Pelago is expanding its Accelerator Program selection to offer greater value and flexibility for advanced blue economy ventures. Leveraging the comprehensive expertise from working with blue economy startups, initiatives and boarder global A'Pelago ecosystem, we unveil the Venture Challenge. It seamlessly combines advisory with network visibility to support sea positive, scalable and science based blue economy startups, innovators and initiatives in finding new strategic partnerships and investors.
The A'Pelago Venture Challenge will offer the most innovative blue economy startups bespoke 1-to-1 advisory, right for a venture boot and visibility at the A'Pelago Initiative 2025. This is your moment to connect with industry, angel investors, VCs, corporates, and grant providers.
Accelerator Venture Challenge Track participants are eligible to compete of the A'Pelago Pitch Prize: Semi-final rankings of it in June in South Finland. Finals at A'Pelago Initiative 2025 in Turku. The Pitch Challenge shared prize is 25.000 EUR.
Join the Challenge to receive
2 ticket to A'Pelago Initiative 2025 and a Venture Booth at event with other Accelerator track participants.
Two 1-to-1 Advisory Sessions for your blue economy venture or initiative with the A'Pelago team.
A Pitch Slot at the A'Pelago Pitch Prize rankings with specialist feedback to your venture.
+ Ranked Pitch Price Finalists gain a Pitch Slot at the A'Pelago Initiative Startup and Investor Day 21.8.2025, competing for the shared Pitch Prize of €25,000.
We are in looking for solution in the following sectors
The Participation Fee
A’Pelago does not invest itself in ventures, nor does it require shares of the companies. Instead we ask for a Participation Fee. The fee is 3,000 € (+VAT), including the attendance to Venture Challenge: 1-2 1-to-1 advisory sessions, 2 tickets to A’Pelago Initiative 2025, right to set a startup booth to A'Pelago Initiative 2025, networking possibilities and 2 one year Activist memberships to A'Pelago Blue Connect platform.
A'Pelago Accelerator is looking for bold, innovative companies
within the Blue Economy ready to scale and reclaim the seas:
Excellent, diverse teams
Innovative, science-based sea positive technologies
Companies on route from shallow seas to global oceans
Questions about the Accelerator Programs?
Alina Sippolainen: alina@apelago.fi
What's ahead?
2x 1-to-1 advisory sessions
Startup Patch to A'Pelago Initiative 2025
Startup booth and visibility at A’Pelago Initiative -event
Networking
Option to attend to the A'Pelago Pitch Prize Competition
Who is eligible to apply?
Your startup or idea has a direct impact to the sea addressing climate change, pollution or overexploitation.
Your startup or idea is science-based scalable product or service
Startups or ideas at any level are welcome to apply
We are already an advanced blue economy venture - are we still eligible to participate?
Yes, you are still eligible. A'Pelago is unique as it is one of Finland's only blue economy accelerators that can offer both business support and/or networks to suit the venture's needs.
How are the testimonials selected?
Submissions shortlisted in the first stage of review will be asked questions with technical information concerning the criteria below: Business performance, Innovations and potential for disruption, Impact, Team.
Does the Accelerator take any equity?
A’Pelago does not take equity or invest itself in ventures. Instead we ask for a Participation Fee. The fee is 3,000 € (+VAT), including the attendance to Venture Challenge: 1-2 1-to-1 advisory sessions, 2 tickets to A’Pelago Initiative 2025, right to set a startup booth to A'Pelago Initiative 2025, right to attend to A'Pelago Pitch Prize competiton, networking possibilities and 2x 1 year Activist memberships to A'Pelago Blue Connect platform (launching in early 2025)
Additional notes
If you have any additional questions, let us know bravely at info@apelago.fi.
Apply now
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