What is a Venture Studio?
A venture studio is an organisation that fosters the creation of new ventures, typically by providing a member of the initial team and strategic direction for the venture to reach product-market fit.
Distinct from the venture capital approach, venture studios are closely involved in the day-to-day operations and strategic decisions of growing the new business.
The venture studio model is also different than a traditional startup accelerator. Accelerators provide what is typically a 12-week program and initial seed funding in exchange for a set amount of equity. Accelerator programs provide training and guidance to help the founders with finding ways to validate their business. At the end of the program, the accelerator has a Demo Day where investors can learn about the latest startup batch and hopefully invest in the accelerator’s portfolio.
Accelerators tend to focus on spreading small amounts of capital across a wide array of startups with the expectation that most will fail. Venture Studios take a slightly different approach, focusing more resources around real world problems/opportunities that they identify as worthy of the investment of resources.
Unlike accelerators, venture studios also don’t typically accept applications for new portfolio companies, as the venture studio’s strategic insight and ability to select opportunities is a part of the value it brings to its partners.
What is the Blue Economy?
We’ve been asked many times, “What exactly is the Blue Economy?”
We’ve learned that there are a lot of varied opinions in the answer to this question.
In the context of Blue-X, when we speak to the Blue Economy our response aligns to the World Bank’s definition:
“the Blue Economy is sustainable use of the ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.”
Areas of focus
Blue-X is focused primarily on how innovative technologies and business models can address challenges in the areas of ocean health, fisheries, aquaculture, seafood, circular economy, decarbonisation/renewable energy, maritime transport, water sports & tourism.
Q. Are you already working on a solution but need help to get to the next level? Or do you have an idea / project that you need help to get off the ground? Whatever the stage you’re at, if it relates to the blue economy, we would love to hear from you!