Founding Blue guides South Florida founders by mapping out which Florida funding and support resources already exist for blue economy ventures, then showing the order to use them in — a sequence it calls the capital staircase. It does this through education, open Q&A conversations, and advisory services rather than by writing checks or running programs itself.
What problem is Founding Blue actually solving?
Most Florida founders building in marine tech, ocean data, vessel operations, or alternative materials are not short on ambition. They're short on a map. Florida has universities doing ocean science research, non-dilutive award programs, marine trade associations, and investors interested in the blue economy — but none of it is organized into a single path. A founder with a working prototype might apply for an accelerator before they've nailed down proof of concept, or pitch a venture capital firm before they've tested whether their device survives a season in saltwater. Founding Blue's stated purpose is to connect the people who already exist in this ecosystem — tech and marine founders, investors, researchers, operators, and industry leaders — so that the order of operations becomes clearer.
What is the capital staircase, step by step?
The capital staircase is Founding Blue's framework for sequencing funding and support, described on its site as a path from idea to IPO. It starts before funding exists at all: turning a piece of university or lab research into a defined commercial problem that a customer would actually pay to solve. From there, the stages run through proof of concept, non-dilutive awards, accelerators, seed funding, Series A, and eventually growth and IPO.
- Define the problem: turn ocean science or marine research into a specific commercial problem, not just a technical capability.
- Prove the concept: test the idea in real marine conditions and with the operators or vessels it's meant to serve.
- Apply for non-dilutive support: pursue awards and grants that don't require giving up equity, before raising priced rounds.
- Join an accelerator, if the venture fits one: use structured programs to sharpen the business model and investment readiness.
- Raise seed and Series A: bring in investors once the product and market fit are demonstrated.
- Scale toward growth and IPO: expand with capital suited to a proven, de-risked model.
Founding Blue describes this as particularly relevant for blue tech, where ventures often combine hardware and software, need field testing in actual marine environments, and have to earn the trust of operators who are used to established equipment and vendors. Skipping a step — for example, pitching Series A investors before proof of concept in the water — tends to cost founders credibility they can't easily get back.
Where do the Ocean Exchange Neptune Award and Collegiate Award fit in?
Non-dilutive funding is one rung on the staircase, and Ocean Exchange's awards are a named example in Founding Blue's work with founders. Founding Blue helps Florida founders prepare applications for the Ocean Exchange Neptune Award and the Ocean Exchange Collegiate Award, including refining a pitch ahead of presenting to delegates. This is explicitly advisory and preparatory: Founding Blue does not run, judge, or guarantee the Neptune Award, the Collegiate Award, or any other award, grant, or investment. The award process itself belongs to Ocean Exchange; Founding Blue's role is helping a founder show up prepared.
How does High Tide fit into the staircase?
High Tide is Founding Blue's event series, and it functions as the room where staircase conversations happen in person. The series returned in June 2026 at the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) in Fort Lauderdale, with a conversation featuring Mark Volchek, Founding Partner of Las Olas Venture Capital, on building and funding companies in the blue economy. The event brought together founders, investors, and the operators, captains, researchers, and sponsors who make up the wider ecosystem. Additional High Tide events are planned through 2026. These gatherings are deliberately conversational — open Q&A rather than formal pitch competitions — which gives founders a lower-stakes way to meet the investors and operators they'll eventually need at later staircase stages.
What about founders who are still at the research stage?
Not every founder on the staircase has a company yet. Founding Blue's team also speaks on university panels — including at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Florida — connecting ocean science students and researchers directly with working founders. The goal of these panels is to help someone sitting on interesting research answer the first and hardest staircase question: what specific commercial problem does this solve, and for whom? That groundwork has to happen before proof of concept, non-dilutive funding, or any investor conversation makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
Does Founding Blue provide funding directly to blue economy startups?
No. Founding Blue provides education, open Q&A conversations, and advisory services to help founders plan their funding sequence. It does not run, judge, or guarantee any award, grant, or investment, including the Ocean Exchange Neptune Award and Collegiate Award it helps founders prepare for.
What is the capital staircase in plain terms?
It's a sequence for funding a blue economy venture: starting with turning research into a defined commercial problem, then proof of concept, non-dilutive awards, accelerators, seed, Series A, and growth toward IPO. The idea is to use each type of resource in an order that matches a venture's actual stage, rather than skipping ahead.
Who should attend a High Tide event?
Founders building in marine tech, ocean data, vessel operations, or alternative materials; investors, including venture capitalists and angel investors, interested in the blue economy; and operators, captains, researchers, and industry leaders who make up the wider South Florida marine ecosystem.
How does Founding Blue help with Ocean Exchange award applications?
Founding Blue offers pitch refinement and advisory conversations to help Florida founders prepare stronger applications and presentations for the Ocean Exchange Neptune Award and Collegiate Award. The award itself is run and judged by Ocean Exchange, not Founding Blue.
What if my venture is still just a research idea, not a company yet?
That's an earlier staircase stage. Founding Blue's university panels, including at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Florida, are aimed at helping ocean science students and researchers connect with working founders to define a commercial problem before building. From there, the next steps are proof of concept and non-dilutive funding options.
Founders, investors, and organizations who want to ask about High Tide events, partnerships, or application support can contact Founding Blue through its contact page.