The Blue Economy CRC is proud to support the 2020 Ocean Impact Pitchfest, a completely virtual concept celebrating the 2020 World Oceans Day theme of “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.
Co-founded by entrepreneur Nick Chiarelli and environmentalist Tim Silverwood (ex CEO, Take 3 for the Sea), the event aims to discover, showcase and celebrate innovations and innovators with the passion, drive and potential to have a significant positive impact on Planet Ocean.
“The event aims to discover, showcase and celebrate innovations and innovators with the passion, drive and potential to have a significant positive impact on Planet Ocean”, says OIO Co-Founder Tim Silverwood.
Ocean Impact Organisation aims to establish Australia as a world leader in ocean solutions and drive significant investment into ocean impact ventures within the next five years. As well as boosting investment, OIO intends to generate a movement of action, asserting that multifaceted challenges require multifaceted, creative solutions.
Blue Economy CRC CEO, John Whittington speaks of the partnership with Ocean Impact and the Pitchfest event, “We are excited to support the inaugural 2020 Ocean Impact Pitchfest and look forward seeing the great innovation and emerging talent it unearths”. John will be part of an upcoming Pitchfest podcast which we will share in the coming weeks.
Winners of Pitchfest 2020 will be chosen by an impressive multidisciplinary panel of expert judges according to various criteria including potential for ocean impact, level of innovation, market fit, competitive advantage, a great team, and strength of business plan.
The Pitchfest Winner will receive a $15,000 cash prize provided by major event partner Bank Australia, as well as an OIO Support Package worth over $50,000 which includes: personal mentoring, legal & accounting support, customer discovery, storytelling & branding, communications and more. Additionally, two runners up and seven finalists will share in over $100,000 worth of products and services contributed by the OIO Partner Network, with the runners up also receiving personal mentoring.
Pitchfest 2020 is now accepting applications from 25th August to 5th October, 2020 with finalists announced on 4th November 2020.
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