One of our key strategies at Viridian is to support African hubs interested in specialisation.
In 2023, we worked with OceanHub Africa and Make-IT in Africa to facilitate the GenBlue programme. This programme aimed to help Innovation Support Organisations (ISOs) design and implement innovation programmes focused on ocean impact. And it did just that!
We’re thrilled to share some success stories from the participants:
Sote Hub – This Kenyan hub has significantly expanded its focus on the blue economy. They’ve successfully hosted the Blue Economy Innovation and Investment Summit in both 2022 and 2023. They’ve also recently launched a call for applications targeting both green and blue economy startups. This journey from a general startup supporter to a specialised blue economy catalyst shows the power of focused support in nurturing innovation and sustainable development.
SmartXchange – Based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, SmartXchange has leveraged its coastal location to specialise in blue tech innovation. They’ve gone from having no blue economy focus to becoming a driving force in sustainable ocean-based economic activities.
MUVA – This Mozambican organisation, which has been focused on women’s economic development since 2015, has successfully integrated a blue economy lens into its gender-inclusive programming. This strategic shift led to immediate results, with MUVA securing funding from the French Embassy for an impact assessment of 6 organisations serving women in the blue economy sector!
We’re incredibly proud of all 9 ISOs that participated in GenBlue, and we can’t wait to work on other projects like this in 2025 to support more hubs interested in specialisation.
Want to learn more about the blue economy? This paper, co-authored by Viridian and OceanHub Africa, provides insights for ISOs, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate in building the inclusive blue economy.