Boston-based bluetech innovation hub SeaAhead and the New England Aquarium have selected a fourth cohort of startups for BlueSwell, a program focused on early-stage bluetech innovation.   

The five startups target decarbonization, ocean data collection, and cellular agriculture.

“These ventures sit at the intersection between innovation and conservation, led by deeply talented and driven founders who are committed to generating high value and high impact,” said BlueSwell Program Manager Julia Pangan in a statement.

BlueSwell delivers funding and mentorship opportunities for founders. Since the program's birth in 2020, BlueSwell has supported 19 startups, which have raised over $20 million to scale their businesses.  

The cohort members are:

Massachusetts-based Atdepth MRV, which develops and implements monitoring techniques and GPU-based (graphics processing unit) computational models to bring science-based measurement, reporting and verification to carbon credit buyers, investors and developers in the ocean carbon dioxide removal space.   

Brooklyn-based Vycarb Inc., which unlocks new hardware-software solutions for accurate carbon measurement and removal.   

Boston-based DetoXyFi, Inc., which makes biodegradable, low-cost, high-performing, wastewood-based water filters to provide clean drinking water in disaster and normal conditions.  

Massachusetts-based Bluemvmt, which focuses on closing the data gap inhibiting ocean restoration efforts with a time-efficient, customizable, integrated subsea monitoring platform.  

Singapore-based Marinas Bio, which uses biotech to cultivate caviar and roe, conserving endangered species in the wild and cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the process. 

The statement said Cohort IV will benefit from SeaAhead’s expertise, network, and experience in growing companies, along with the New England Aquarium’s five decades of leadership in ocean conservation, research, and stewardship. It added the program has been refined and redeveloped based on feedback from previous years.

The 20-week program began September 19th and will include a $50,000 stipend and in-kind support, as well as guidance from SeaAhead and the Aquarium’s ocean science, policy and advising arm (Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life). In addition, there will be access to a network of mentors, and coworking for the length of the program at the Cambridge Innovation Center.