Applications to join the Startup Yard’s first cohort at the Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship are now open.

COVE is looking for early-stage ocean companies in sectors such as energy, aquaculture, and marine transportation to join its incubation facility during its six- to nine-month program. Entrants have to be pre-revenue or with sales less than $1 million per year.

The program will teach companies such business know-how as how to protect intellectual property and validate potential through customer discovery and market research. Workshops on lean startups, pitching and product development will also be available.  

COVE is Nova Scotia's upcoming facility for innovation within the region's oceans sector. With a new waterfront property in the works, COVE will be a base for the oceans research and innovation community in Halifax. Many of its tenants will be established businesses, and Startup Yard is the patch dedicated to young, innovative companies. 

Participants in its incubator will get to demo and present their final business pitch at the Demo Day event at COVE, where the winner will receive $25,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Applications for the first cohort are due March 16 and shortlist interviews will be held March 23, 28 and 29. You can apply to the cohort here.