​Flow State: A Mindful Start to OceanFest

​Before diving into a dynamic day of bold conversations, big ideas, and innovation in action, join us for a grounding start to OceanFest with coffee and tea on arrival.
Move through the Ocean, Freshwater and Us Giant Floor Map*, an immersive, interactive installation that illuminates the vital connections between ourselves, the ocean and waterways in Canada. And settle in for an immersive meditative experience by Sounds of the Ocean to connect to yourself and the purpose behind our work to begin the day.

*Ocean, Freshwater, and Us map project was led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Ocean School, and a multi-partner national design committee. Download the app here Apple | Android

​Welcome to OceanFest

​Welcome to OceanFest 2025, hosted by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and the Ocean Startup Project. Executive Director Paula Mendonça and CEO Kendra MacDonald are thrilled to kick off this exciting day focused on innovation, collaboration, and the tremendous potential of the sustainable ocean economy.

​Today, you’ll hear from visionary startups showcasing cutting-edge solutions, corporates spearheading transformative ocean projects, and innovators exploring cross-sector technologies with broad applications. We’ll dive into discussions on innovative financing models, celebrate success stories of funded ocean ventures, and highlight opportunities for cross-sector collaboration that drive growth and impact. This event is a unique opportunity to connect with investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers and build the networks needed to create lasting change.

​Whether you’re here to invest, partner, or innovate, OceanFest 2025 is your platform to discover new opportunities and make waves in the ocean economy.

​Mission "Impossible": How a Contrarian Startup Won an XPRIZE

​Speaker: Mike Kelland, Planetary Technologies

​Without our oceans, the earth would have already warmed by 36C. As the most powerful buffer to climate change, it's no surprise that study after study shows that ocean-based climate solutions have the potential to be the highest-scale tools we have. So why have you never heard of them? In this session, Mike Kelland will take us on the journey from Planetary's founding to winning an XPRIZE for demonstrating the highest-scale form of carbon removal in the world. Along the way, we'll see why working on things that everyone "knows" are impossible can sometimes be the simplest path to success.

​Stronger Together: How Big Companies and Startups Unlock Mutual Success in the Ocean Economy

​When big companies and startups join forces, the results can be transformative. This panel will explore how collaborations like Thales and Corsphere create win-win outcomes, driving innovation and growth for both parties. Featuring insights from COVE’s Naval Technology Innovation Challenge, we will discuss how these partnerships accelerate R&D, open new markets, and solve complex challenges in the sustainable ocean economy. Learn how startups gain scale and resources, while corporates tap into agility and fresh ideas proving that together, they can achieve far more than they could alone.

​Ocean vs. Space: The Next Frontier for Innovation

​Oceans and space represent two of humanity’s most exciting and challenging frontiers. But which holds the greatest potential for innovation, investment, and impact? In this session, we’ll pit space against oceans in a lively debate, exploring the biggest opportunities, challenges, and synergies between these sectors. From satellite monitoring of ocean health to deep-sea robotics inspired by space exploration, discover how cutting-edge technologies are bridging these two worlds. Join us to hear from leading experts, uncover cross-sector collaborations, and decide which frontier will shape the future of our planet and beyond.

​- Networking Break -

​Startup Showcase

​The Ocean Startup Showcase is an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, government funders, and entrepreneurs as we shine a spotlight on some of the most innovative ocean technology startups in Canada. We will feature rapid-fire pitches from emerging ocean companies, sparking meaningful conversations and networking opportunities among attendees.

​Alaagi Inc. / Shahriar Zulfiqar, Co-Founder - "Alaagi is tackling the global plastic pollution crisis by developing innovative seaweed-based bioplastics that naturally decompose and provide scalable, sustainable alternatives for food packaging.”

​Atalanta Climate / Sally Chen, Co-Founder - “Atalanta Climate is building air purifiers that boost productivity and reverse climate change, by sequestering captured CO2 from air using seawater.”

​Aquarius Fishing Technologies / Jérémie Therrien, Co-Founder - “Aquarius Fishing Technologies is developing an underwater plane that precisely controls the depth of commercial fishing nets, preventing contact with the seabed and helping fishermen improve profitability.”

​CORSphere Software Inc. / Tahrin Maruf, Co-Founder & CPO - "CORSphere is a mobile-first fleet management SaaS platform to help companies reduce their maintenance and fuel-emissions costs using AI."

​REPWR (Waabgaag Energy Corp) / Zachary McCue, Founder & CEO - “REPWR is developing a modular solar system that installs quickly on containers, trucks, and railcars to create mobile solar farms—delivering clean energy for transport and logistics while enabling off-grid power at ports, depots, and remote sites to cut fossil fuel use and boost energy independence.”

​SeaCork Studios / Annie Dahan, Founder & CEO - “SeaCork Studios is developing biodegradable acoustic panels from local seaweed by rethinking our relationship to materials and their origins.”

​Innovating for a Sustainable Blue Economy: Leadership in Action

​Join us for an inspiring closing keynote with ECOP Canada Ambassador and founder of The Imaginative Scientist, Moronke Harris, an award-winning deep-sea scientist, TEDx speaker, and creative leader driving innovation at the intersection of ocean sustainability, exploration, and communication.

​Closing Remarks