OceanHub Africa, an accelerator and investor for ocean-focused African businesses, has opened applications for Cohort 8 of its Acceleration Programme. The nine-month programme will take up to 10 revenue-generating African startups in the Blue Economy: businesses that make money while improving the health of the ocean.
It’s free and takes no equity. Founders only pay their own travel to the in-person bootcamp. Selection for Cohort 8 closes on 6 December 2026.
At a Glance
| Organiser | OceanHub Africa (OHA) |
| Programme | Acceleration Programme, Cohort 8 (2027) |
| Places | Up to 10 startups |
| Duration | 9 months, from March 2027, mostly online, with a bootcamp in April 2027 |
| Cost | No fee, no equity. You pay your own bootcamp travel. |
| Who can apply | Registered African Blue Economy startups with paying customers |
| Deadline | 6 December 2026 |
Benefits
- Your own Entrepreneur in Residence, who coaches you every week and builds a growth plan with you
- Investor readiness: investment analysis, investor relations and a data-room framework, so you know what investors will ask
- Growth strategy: fundraising strategy, 90-day work plans and help entering new markets
- Technical support from an Engineer in Residence and outside experts, such as a fractional CFO, covering software, IoT, hardware design and operations
- West African and Francophone market support from a dedicated regional coach
- A chance at follow-on capital, including OHA’s interest-free Blue Loop facility and its new Catalytic Bridge Facility. These have separate processes and aren’t guaranteed.
- A one-week in-person bootcamp ending with a pitch to Blue Economy experts
- Leadership coaching, including with the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business Centre for Coaching
- A guaranteed slot to pitch at a Blue Economy conference in Africa after you graduate
- Access to OHA’s alumni network of 42 ventures
Eligibility
- A registered African startup active in the Blue Economy or a related sector
- A product or service already on the market, past the prototype stage, with active customers, deployments, contracts or invoices
- Revenue you can prove: paying customers, signed contracts, repeat sales or renewals. There’s no minimum amount and you don’t need to be profitable, but pilots and letters of intent alone aren’t enough.
- At least two co-founders with complementary skills. Solo founders can apply only if they have a management team of more than four people.
- Clear ocean impact: your core business must improve ocean outcomes on purpose, with credible metrics
- At least one team member available for weekly coaching, and a founder or executive able to attend the bootcamp
Exception seats: up to three places are reserved for ventures without proven revenue that show breakthrough innovation or exceptional ocean impact. These need registered or pending intellectual property and a written plan to reach revenue.
Sectors Considered
Climate tech, waste management and recycling, the circular economy, marine carbon removal, nature-based solutions, marine biotechnology, marine renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, ocean robotics, ocean data, boat building and repair, maritime transport and logistics, and coastal ecotourism.
How to Apply
- Check that your startup meets the requirements above.
- Prepare your company incorporation documents (required), investor pitch deck, financial statements or management accounts if you have them, and proof of customers, revenue and ocean impact.
- Complete the application on VC4A (link below) before 6 December 2026.
- If you make the top 20, you’ll be emailed between 18 and 20 December 2026 and asked to send a pitch deck and a 5-minute pitch video by 18 January 2027.
Apply for the OceanHub Africa Acceleration Programme, Cohort 8 (official page on VC4A) · OceanHub Africa website
Selection Timeline
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 6 December 2026 | Selection for Cohort 8 closes |
| 18–20 December 2026 | Top 20 contacted |
| 18 January 2027 | Pitch deck and video due |
| February 2027 | Final pitches and due diligence |
| 15 February 2027 | Cohort of up to 10 announced |
| March 2027 | Programme starts |
| April 2027 | In-person bootcamp |
| Early 2028 | Graduation and investor pitch |
Missed the date? OceanHub says it will keep accepting applications on a rolling basis after 6 December and review them every quarter for future programmes.
Tips
- Lead with revenue evidence. Invoices and repeat customers count for far more than awards or pilots.
- Show the ocean link clearly. Explain exactly how your sales reduce pollution, protect marine life or support sustainable fishing, and give the numbers.
- Know your unit economics: your margins, customer costs and how much capital you need to grow.
- Budget for the bootcamp. Travel isn’t covered, so plan for flights and visas early.
