The Ocean Startup Project has opened applications for the 2026 Ocean Idea Challenge, a national early-stage three-month program that helps Canadians turn ideas into opportunities.

Selected teams can receive up to $8,000 and hands-on support to test assumptions through customer conversations.

“If you’ve got an ocean idea with potential, we’ll help you pressure-test it, sharpen it, and take your first real steps toward a venture,” said Natasha Legay, Challenge Director at the Ocean Startup Project, in a statement.

The Ocean Idea Challenge is designed for individuals and teams who are pre-company or very early-stage, including those who haven’t registered a business yet, or who have been incorporated for one year or less and are still validating. Applicants must be 18-plus and based in Canada.

To date, 54 teams have completed the program, with most continuing onto other OSP programming such as Lab2Market Oceans, Ocean Startup Challenge, Boost and Amplify, the group said.

In the coming weeks, OSP will roll out a series of statements that highlight priority needs and real-world opportunities across ocean sectors.

Key dates for the 2026 program include:

● March 12: English Program information session #1

● March 26: French Program information session

● March 31: Workshop: How to talk about your ocean tech

● April 8: Workshop - Overcoming a Customer Discovery Cold Start

● April 9: English Program information session #2

● April 12: Registration Deadline

Participant selection will take place in mid-to late-April, with programming following. Full details, including the program information package and registration, are available here.

The Ocean Startup Project is a national organization that supports the growth of Canada’s ocean innovation sector by connecting startups with industry, government and academic partners.