Salish Sea Imagination Challenge
IMAGINE THE Billion-Dollar Opportunities When the Ocean Is Fully UnderstooD.
Starting with the Salish Sea, we are reimagining the future of the oceans at the intersection of innovation, science, community, and commerce.
What if every current, kelp forest, migration route, temperature shift, and maritime risk in the Salish Sea and Puget Sound was visible in real time?
01
What scientific breakthroughs could we unlock?
02
How might communities benefit from new ocean data?
03
What billion-dollar business ideas might emerge?
The Salish Sea Imagination Challenge brings together entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, maritime operators, and young innovators to imagine and pitch commercially viable solutions enabled by abundant ocean data.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Ocean Data gap Isn’t just scientific, IT'S ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
Ocean observing systems are fragmented, underpowered, and designed for yesterday's questions. Critical data doesn't exist. What does exist stays siloed. Markets can't form around information that isn't there.
But that's changing.
Advances in sensors, satellites, autonomous systems, AI, and connectivity make abundant ocean data technically possible. What's missing? The imagination to see what becomes commercially possible.
OVERVIEW
Two-day innovation festival
Event Format
Mid 2026
Target Date
Salish Sea Region
Geographic Focus
Building a Global Blueprint in the Salish Sea
Our vision is abundant ocean data everywhere. We're starting in the Salish Sea because this ecosystem mirrors challenges facing coasts globally, while offering the maritime activity, research capacity, and collaborative spirit to build solutions that work.
OUR GOAL
Flipping the script ON OCEAN INNOVATION
Our goal is to generate breakthrough business concepts that are both commercially viable and advance ocean science, safety, and stewardship.
One of the key ways to ensure better ocean data is to build profitable businesses that need it.
The Innovation Challenge supports Possibility Ocean's mission:
To unlock the ocean's potential, we need a paradigm shift, one powered by bold ideas, creative thinking, and new collaborative models.
Raise awareness of the urgent need for improved and inclusive ocean data
Break down silos through cross-sector dialogue, convening, and collaboration
Introduce imagination and creativity as essential tools for ocean problem-solving
THE EVENT
Two Days of Imagination to unlock the Future of the Ocean Data Economy
This isn't a conference or hackathon. It's an innovation sprint where entrepreneurial thinking meets ocean expertise to generate breakthrough business concepts.
The challenge: Jump into a future where ocean data is abundant and accessible, then imagine the breakthrough product, service, or business model it enables.
DAY ONE
Market Intelligence & Opportunity Mapping
Discover where the opportunities hide. Day one reveals the pain points, data gaps, and unmet needs across maritime operations, climate resilience, and ecosystem services: the intelligence you need to build viable solutions.
DAY TWO
The Innovation Challenge
Cross-disciplinary teams work with mentors from industry, science, investment, maritime operations, and community leadership to develop commercially viable concepts enabled by abundant ocean data. Ideas are pitched on stage, judged by experts, and celebrated by the community.
🏆 Winner: $10,000 + speaking slot at a prominent climate conference and featured in ocean innovation publications
🥈 Runner-up: $5,000 + featured in ocean innovation publications
🥉 Third place: $2,500 + featured in ocean innovation publications
All Participants: introduction to bluetech investors, industry partners
Focus Areas: Commercial Opportunity Sectors
Abundant ocean data unlocks commercial potential across five high-impact sectors. Participants of the innovation challenge can choose one or combine multiple to build their breakthrough.
-
![Maritime & Logistics]()
Maritime & Logistics
Transform how vessels move, ports operate, and goods flow with real-time ocean intelligence and predictive capabilities.
• Navigation optimization and dynamic routing
* Predictive maintenance for vessels and infrastructure
• Port operations and supply chain efficiency
• Autonomous vessel navigation and support systems
• Maritime safety and collision avoidance -
![Climate & Resilience]()
Climate & Resilience
Build commercial solutions that protect coastal communities and infrastructure from climate impacts using abundant ocean data.
• Coastal adaptation tools and infrastructure protection
• Early warning systems for storms and flooding
• Climate risk modeling and scenario planning
• Disaster preparedness and emergency response platforms
• Sea level rise monitoring and mitigation strategies -
![Ecosystem Services]()
Ecosystem Services
Unlock new revenue streams by monitoring, protecting, and monetizing ocean ecosystems through data-driven market mechanisms.
• Sustainable fisheries management and stock assessment
• Aquaculture optimization and disease prevention
• Blue carbon markets and ecosystem restoration finance
• Biodiversity monitoring and conservation verifcation
• Ecosystem health scoring for ESG and impact investment -
![Enabling Technologies]()
Enabling Technologies
Create the platforms, tools, and infrastructure that make ocean data accessible, actionable, and valuable to everyone.
• Data platforms, marketplaces, and API ecosystems
• Low-cost sensor networks and autonomous systems
• AT/ML models for ocean prediction and analysis
• Democratized ocean intelligence for communities
• Data integration and interoperability solutions -
![Financial Services]()
Financial Services
Develop new financial products and risk models enabled by real-time ocean data that traditional systems can't access.
• Parametric insurance for maritime and coastal risks
• Dynamic risk assessment and pricing tools
• Impact investment verification and ESG products
• Green and blue bond performance tracking
• Climate finance instruments and catastrophe bonds
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE
The magic lies in overlapping perspectives and expertise
Breakthroughs come from unexpected collisions: scientists spotting commercial applications, operators revealing unmet needs, engineers solving real problems, investors seeing what's possible.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Turn the tide of the future Ocean Data Economy
01/ Submit a letter of support
Your letter demonstrates community backing, strengthens our funding applications, and signals market interest in ocean data innovation.
03/ Join the innovation challenge
Competing? Mentoring? Just want updates?
We'll notify you when applications open.
02/ Become a sponsor
Position your organization at the forefront of ocean innovation and support the Challenge financially or through in-kind contributions like venue, mentorship, data access, or marketing.
Access to emerging talent and breakthrough ideas
Visibility to investors, entrepreneurs, and ocean sector leaders
Opportunity to co-design challenges aligned with your strategic priorities
First look at innovative solutions to industry problems
Association with ocean innovation and entrepreneurship
Become a Catalyst Sponsors:
Co-creation of challenge parameters
Speaking/panel opportunities
Judging roles
Priority access to winning teams
Strategic partnership opportunities
OUR PARTNERS
Advancing the Ocean Data Economy Through Imagination.
Earth House Fund - 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing climate and ocean solutions
Giant Shoulders - Branding agency serving impact-driven founders in medtech and ocean tech
McConnell Strategic Consulting - Strategy and management for ocean science and international development
