The Atlantic Smart Ports Blue Acceleration Network (AspBAN) is the establishment of a partnership between EU Atlantic ports for the development of a blue accelerator scheme that can stimulate innovative businesses in an innovation ecosystem to foster a sustainable blue economy. AspBAN is funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the European Union and will be based on the successful experience of Bluetech Accelerator – Ports & Shipping 4.0 in Portugal.

The project as the main goal to achieve a final pool of 30 innovative startup solutions developed as pilots in 30 Atlantic ports, attracting 6M€ in direct private investment, mobilizing 4,5billion€ of potential private investment and making a reduction of at least 100.000 tons of CO2 emissions in the operations of the 30 ports.

We’re open to businesses that have at least a prototype ready to already raise money, ideally just until series A. If you feel that your business and products would benefit from this collaboration we’d love to hear from you.

We ask for information about you, your idea, your team and your company. Don’t hold back, let us know how great you are!

Yes, AsBAN is open for European startups as long as there is an interest and you are able to work with any of the partners that are present in the Atlantic Strategy Committee Member Countries (Ireland, Portugal, Spain and France). Startups with solutions / products that contribute to the objectives of the Atlantic Strategy, and especially the goals for development of Atlantic ports into blue economy hubs, and whose activities are focused on the EU waters in the Atlantic, are welcome to apply.

English is the official language of the program

The program will be working in a fully remote experience.

AspBAN is not an accelerator program and thus, unlike conventional accelerators for startups, we do not ask for equity in your business in order for you to participate and obtain all of the benefits of the program.

However, should one or more of the program partners be interested in investing and the time is right for your business, this is certainly a possibility and a valued outcome for many startups.

Feasibility

Is your business/project feasible? We’ll be looking to have the following questions answered, preferably supported with numbers. How well do you understand the market, market size and competitors? How much does it cost to start, get into the market and scale? If needed: can you get sufficient funding?

Team

Credible team, quality CVs, relevant qualifications/experience;

Product

Clearly innovative or disruptive, differentiated from existing solutions, scalable, exhibits sustainable competitive advantage potential and fit with the program and the Program Member’s challenges;

Market

Large addressable market to facilitate significant sales growth (minimum $1 billion USD, if applicable);

Business Plan

Viable business model based on credit commercial and economic assumptions;

Impact

(Potential for) positive social/environment impact connected to the Sustainable Development Goals;

Location

(Ability and willingness to be) Active in the Atlantic Strategy Committee Member countries (Ireland, Portugal, Spain and France).

We aim to select 80 startups to join the Acceleration Services part of the AspBAN program.

This program is a deep dive into the blue tech ecosystem, sharing specific knowledge, connecting you to relevant investors, like-minded people and mentors to accelerate your business.

We know that your needs will be very different from an early-stage business. Your time is precious and we won’t waste it. That’s why you are in charge of which program parts you want to follow. As long as you want to gain specific knowledge, connect to specific parts or the wider ecosystem and are interested to pitch for relevant investors, we can work together.

Mentors will include experts within the blue ocean sector, from the corporate-, entrepreneur- investment side. Aside from that there will be subject matter experts. A full list of mentors will be announced in due course.