Katapult Ocean launches Ocean Growth Track for African blue economy founders

Katapult Ocean has launched the Ocean Growth Track, an initiative designed to help build a more visible, investable pipeline of ocean ventures across Africa.

The first cohort brings together 10 companies from six countries working in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biotechnology, circular materials, health access, and climate-resilient agriculture. Over two cohorts, the initiative will support 20 companies, building on Katapult Ocean’s years of engagement with founders and ocean-innovation ecosystems across the globe.

Several of the companies previously participated in OceanHub Africa’s accelerator program. Through the Ocean Growth Track, we aim to build on that foundation and support their next stage of growth.

ABALOBI Labs gives small-scale fishers digital logbooks, traceability and financial tools, and sells their verified catch directly to restaurants and consumers, helping fishing communities build the first-mile data, skills and agency needed to rebuild fisheries.

AquaDeep builds AI computer vision software that counts, sizes and identifies aquatic larvae and shellfish from a single photo, so hatcheries and farms can replace slow manual counts with fast, accurate data. 

Chitelix turns seafood by-products such as crab shells into marine-based ingredients, including chitin and chitosan, for use in agriculture, cosmetics, water treatment and medicine.

Coastal BioTech makes non-GMO biostimulants from red seaweed in Zanzibar that help crops reach their yield potential despite drought, heat, poor soils, and limited fertiliser.

EcoBrixs pays community collectors for plastic waste through buyback hubs across Uganda and recycles it into construction materials and furniture. 

Lake Farms & Fishing Lodge combines aquaculture, fish aggregation, cold chain, and market access on Lake Kariba to increase fish supply and create more value for fishing communities. 

MariHealth Solutions uses proteomics to show how fish respond to feed, disease, stress, and farming practices, giving aquaculture businesses molecular evidence to inform health and welfare decisions.

Progreen Innovations converts plastic and organic waste into energy products, including alternative fuels for diesel and petrol engines, and alternative construction materials. 

Rio Fish aggregates fish from smallholder farmers in Kenya alongside its own fish production, processes it into value-added products, and delivers them through its cold chain and market access platform, with a focus on opportunities for women and young people. 

SOSO CARE enables low- and middle-income Nigerians to exchange recyclable waste, such as plastic bottles and cans, for micro-health insurance cover, linking access to care with waste collection.

Africa's waters and the businesses they sustain

With roughly 47,000 kilometers of coastline and 38 coastal states, Africa’s ocean economy is central to how people eat, work, and trade. Its importance is growing as cities expand, pressure on food and water systems increases, and climate change creates new demands on coastal communities and infrastructure.

Katapult Ocean sees opportunities where solutions can address clear operational and market needs. Cold-chain infrastructure and aquaculture technologies can reduce post-harvest losses and improve productivity; software and connected hardware can strengthen coastal logistics and maritime operations; and marine biotechnology can create new uses for seaweed and other ocean resources.

Established businesses in fisheries and plastic-waste management have already shown that ocean-related companies can attract capital. Yet blue tech is still emerging as a distinct investment category in Africa. Specialized networks, infrastructure, and capital that help founders build their businesses and connect with suitable investors vary substantially across African markets.

For investors and partners, the question is not whether Africa’s blue economy sectors matter, but which companies can translate a relevant solution into a scalable commercial model. 

A platform built on years of engagement

Katapult’s engagement with African founders spans nearly seven years. Through in-person accelerator programs, founder meetings, company screening, and four investments through its global ocean fund, it has developed experience and relationships across the region.

Since 2021, Katapult Ocean has run a multi-year initiative to identify and support blue economy ventures across Africa and connect them with capital and markets. The initiative is supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and carried out in collaboration with OceanHub Africa.

As part of this work, the Katapult Ocean Africa team mapped more than 650 ventures and interviewed 250 founders. These conversations gave the team a clearer view of the opportunities founders are pursuing and the practical barriers that can affect commercialization, including financial systems, communication, impact evidence, routes to market, and suitable capital. The Katapult Ocean Africa team selected the inaugural cohort from this pipeline, while insights from founder conversations shaped the first edition of the Ocean Growth Track.

Explore 100 Innovators Shaping Africa's Blue Economy

Preparing for investment and growth 

Across African markets, founders may have limited access to the sector-specific knowledge, networks, and investor perspective needed to prepare for due diligence and develop a stronger commercial case. The Ocean Growth Track is designed to help participating companies strengthen their commercial and investment readiness as they pursue their next stage of growth.

The initiative draws on Katapult Ocean’s global experience in ocean innovation, investment, and impact, alongside the regional knowledge and relationships developed through its work in Africa. Its broader ambition is to make more African blue economy ventures visible to the partners, markets, and forms of capital relevant to their growth.

We want to show that Africa’s blue economy should be seen not only through the lens of development need, but also as a source of scalable businesses, investable solutions, and the potential for attractive commercial returns.

Lucretia Chopera, Africa Deal Flow Lead.

Participation in the Ocean Growth Track does not include an investment or grant from Katapult Ocean.

Interested in backing the next generation of African blue economy ventures? 

If you invest in emerging markets — or help build the ecosystems around them — we’d like to hear from you. 

Acknowledgements

Katapult Ocean thanks Katapult Africa and OceanHub Africa as our partners, as well as SOTE Hub, Hatch Blue, BFA Global, Catalyst Fund, The Social Impact Investment Consultancy, and Blue Food Innovation Hub, alongside 1000 Ocean Startups and the many other organizations and individuals who helped the Africa team connect with founders during the ecosystem-mapping process.

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For media inquiries or questions about the Ocean Growth Track, please contact Lucretia Chopera, Africa Deal Flow Lead: lucretia@katapult.vc.