APelago

Before we share some news about the A'Pelagic future, let’s take a moment to reflect on the strides we made together so far this year 💫 In September we wrapped up our 1st-ever A'Pelago Accelerator program. It exceeded even our own expectations, and yes - we keep those pretty high for the next Accelerator set to kick off in January 2025: During this 1st program, 3 (!!!) new Blue economy startups were born, and 7 others sharpened their business strategies, gained new direction, and expanded their networks for life. What is the A’Pelago Accelerator? The A’Pelago Accelerator is an impact-driven program dedicated to Blue economy startups and spinoffs committed to create sea region impact. Running annually from January to summer, it brings together founders to validate their business cases and connect with a powerful ecosystem, culminating in a pitch session at the A’Pelago Initiative in August. Past participants have described their companies as “unrecognizable” by the program’s end. The overall rating given by the participants was 4.7/5 and they especially praised the team spirit of the arrangers and fellow participants. 🏄♂️ Curious to catalyze the growth of your blue economy business with us?  Stay tuned - news about the A’Pelago Accelerator 2025 coming real soon… https://lnkd.in/dHnM4Xuy A’Pelago Accelerator 2024 participants: Aila.Earth, Environmental Impacts Academy, eeca.io, Fish Farm 4.0., Nexamass, Niinmun Design, OliOil, Ruoco, Space of Mind and Subdrone. Our amazing Accelerator 2024 contributors include but are not limited to Pargas stad - Paraisten kaupunki, Åbo Akademi University, LokalTapiola, Kimitoöns kommun | Kemiönsaaren kunta | Municipality of Kimitoön, Naantalin kaupunki, Turun Osuuskauppa, Veritas Pension Insurance Company, Aboa Advest Oy, Edelle Attorneys, PBI Research Institute 🙌 Piia Maaranen Fredrik Rönnlund Inka Mero Mari Granström Rebecca Sjödin Juha Saarinen Turo Numminen Teemu Birkstedt Ville Valtonen Mathias Kerke Smartbutlers Merit Kuusniemi Naicc Knut Ringbom Tom Palenius Pär Mickos Anna Törnroos Milla Unkila

🌊 Our first 1000 Ocean Startups Annual Gathering has concluded. Next our commitment to reclaiming the seas continues with a massively strengthened global ecosystem of leaders in blue innovation and financing! Alongside over 49 other member organizations, A’Pelago took part in this efficient gathering to collaborate and discuss how economically sustainable sea and ocean impact business initiatives can be accelerated: 🤝 Patrik Anckar, co-founder, contributed to sessions on raising mainstream interest in blue impact innovation and investment — from blue foods to sustainable sea impact technologies. 🚀 Alina S., our accelerator lead, delved in deep dive groups advancing impact management and measurement practices for the regenerative blue economy. 👥Both engaged with global colleagues and contributed to discussions about #bluefinance, emerging innovation trends and investment opportunities driving the system level transition to regenerative business practices. The event, under the theme "The Ocean Nexus," emphasized the vital role seas and oceans play in tackling global challenges like climate change, food security, and energy transition. Impact innovation proved to be crucial to restoring sea health and building a regenerative economy. A big thank you to 1000OS initiators Christian Lim, Alexis Grosskopf, Ingrid H. Maurstad, Builders Vision & co. and World Economic Forum Lighthouse Ronald Tardiff, Sam Zak & team for organizing such a warm and thought-bending gathering. We’re proud to have contributed to discussions on innovation and financing catalyzing the future of sea and ocean impact business initiatives forward with some amazing old and new global colleagues. At APelago , we believe that collective efforts with diverse stakeholders from science-based startups to evolved corporates are a must in making a lasting impact on seas, planet, and people. 🌊 #BlueEconomy #SeaImpact #RegenerativeInnovation #BlueFinance #RegenerativeBusiness #1000OS #startupsupport Ocean Eye #APELAGO 📷 1000OS photographer, Birgit M. Liodden & private photos

We are thrilled to announce that A’Pelago will be participating in the 1000 Ocean Startups Annual Gathering 2024 in Amsterdam! As part of this global coalition dedicated to accelerating ocean innovation, our co-founder Patrik Anckar and accelerator lead Alina S. will be joining over 30 other members to discuss the seas’ and ocean’s crucial role in addressing challenges like climate change, food security, the energy transition and more. 🌍 Convening under the theme, The Ocean Nexus, the gathering will spotlight the transformative power of sea and ocean innovation and impact investment. Closing out the gathering will be a special reception where 50 leading entrepreneur-supporting organizations, innovators and changemakers will celebrate sea and ocean innovation — an inspiring opportunity to connect with fellow investors and changemakers, share insights and reflect on advancing the regenerative blue economy. Will you join us? Request a ticket to attend the closing reception here: https://lnkd.in/d2vh4Ap8 We can’t wait to connect and change insights at this global gathering! See you there! #1000OceanStartups #blueeconomy #OceanInnovation #OceanImpact #ImpactInvesting #OceanStartups #SDG14

TS printtilehti tänään: Sini ja Sininen talous. Lisää hyviä uutisia luvassa vielä lokakuun aikana ja marraskuussa lanseerataan Blue Connect alusta kaikille APelago ekosysteemin jäsenille. Stay tuned! #sininentalous #kiihdyttämö #blueeconomy #accelerator

🌊We are thrilled to announce that the A'Pelago Crew is expanding! 🙌 A seasoned event industry professional and partnership developer Sini Toivonen has now joined A'Pelago's team as Event Producer & Business Partnership Developer. Sini has extensive experience in organizing events for both large and small companies and will be responsible for the A'Pelago Initiative development. Sini Toivonen: “I am thrilled to take on the development of the A'Pelago Initiative and partnerships! A'Pelago's mission is close to my heart having grown up by the sea in the scenic landscapes of Kustavi. I hope my children will enjoy a vibrant sea in the future, just as I have” says Sini. In addition, Alina S. has been appointed as Accelerator Lead and Communication Specialist following her 1 year work as all around producer for our team. She has proven her work in all stages from event and Accelerator program development to identifying and strategically supporting Accelerator startups form identification to impact reporting. Alina also created and steers the valuable partnerships with 1000 Ocean Startups expanding A'Pelago's global blue economy investor and innovation ecosystem connections. Great fall ahed! #allhandsondeck #blueeconomy

Origin by Ocean's, one of Finland's most interesting sea impact startups we support and work with, fresh post is making a splash! Give it a watch — it’s clear at a glance that investment and action toward sea and ocean restoration are crucial — not only for the health of our planet but also for its economic future by 2050. At A'Pelago, we share this vision and actively support companies in the Baltic Sea Blue Economy, driving sustainable impact every day. 🔵 #withaviewtocreate #regenerative #blueeconomy

Hyvää Itämeripäivää - Glad Östersjödagen - Happy Baltic Sea Day!! Today, we honor the life and possibilities that our unique shallow home sea provides us. Additionally, we celebrate each individual and company that determinedly takes the initiative to reclaim the sea in partnership with us and through their unique paths. If you see us at the Baltic Sea Day events, come and say hello. We want to hear your next sea region positive business initiative. #itämeripäivä #balticseaday #östersjödagen

Work of catalyzing business that reclaims the sea continues. This week A'Pelago Team has been actively engaging with multiple stakeholders. Here’s a recap from our founder, Timo Ketonen, highlighting our yesterday in Seili: ''Itämeri teema jatkui eilen Seilin tiede- ja kulttuuripäivillä. Sain olla paneelikeskustelussa teemasta ’Elinvoimainen saaristo: Onko luonnon ja ihmisen ristiriita ratkaistavissa?’ Moderaattorina toimi Kari Vainio. Keskustelemassa olivat Paraisten kaupunginjohtaja Tom Simola, Naantalin elinkeinopäällikkö Lassi Rosala ja Visit Turku Archipelagon tj Kristiina Kukkohovi. TS:n päätoimittaja Jussi Orell teki aiheesta hyvän synteesin: “Saaristomeri voi kuulostaa kainuulaisen tai lappilaisen korvissa kaukaiselta. Alueellisen edunvalvonnan pelikirjassa on ehkä paikallaan toteuttaa kahta taktiikkaa. Saaristomeri olkoon paikallisesti Saaristomeri, mutta valtakunnallisesti Itämeri. Sitä paitsi Itämeri on turvallisuuspoliittisesti melkoinen hot spot. Mitä puhtaampi meri, sitä vireämpi saaristo. Mitä vireämpi saaristo, sitä parempi koko Suomen kannalta.'' Toimittaja Katja Ihatsun artikkelissa taas arvioitiin matkailun vaikutusta: “Matkailu ei ole nykyisellä tasolla uhka Saaristomeren monimuotoisuudelle. Saaristomatkailun volyymi on yhä suhteellisen pieni eikä ulkomaisten turismien osuus ole toistaiseksi lähtenyt kasvuun. Mahdollisuuksia kasvuun olisi, mutta rehevöityminen on uhka myös turismille.” Paneelissa Kristiina Kukkohovi arvioi matkailun kehitystä: “Matkailuun kohdistuvan rahankäytön arvioidaan kaksinkertaistuvan kymmenessä vuodessa. On hyvin todennäköistä, että Välimeren alueen kuumentuessa matkailu tänne tulee kasvamaan. Siksi meidän tulee nyt ennakoida ja valmistautua siihen, että saaristomatkailu kasvaa” ja jatkoi “Puhdas luonto on Suomen matkailuvaltti. Jos sitä ei ole, ei ole mitään." Paneelissa toin esiin termin sinivalkoinen talous. Saaristomeren pelastamisen keinoina on listattu esim. peltojen kipsaaminen, uudistava maatalous, ruovikkojen hyötykäyttö ja meriliikenteen päästöjen vähentäminen. Näihin tulee liittää regeneratiivinen eli uudistava liiketoiminta. Sinivalkoisen talouden innovaatioiden luomiseksi tarvitaan tutkimusta, jonka pohjalta voidaan luoda uusia tuotteita kuten #APELAGOAccelerator -ohjelmaan osallistuneet uudet yritykset eli Ruoco, jonka tavoitteena on muovisten viljelyruukkujen korvaaminen kaislasta tehdyillä ruukuilla ja Nexamass: biomassan kerääminen hyötykäyttöön. Elinvoimaiset merialueet on meille A’Pelagon toimijoille ja verkostolle sydämenasia. Tämän eteen teemme aktiivisesti ja systemaattisesti työtä. Elinkeinoelämän monipuolisuus on elinvoiman kannalta yhtä tärkeä asia - kestävää liiketoimintaa on luotava nyt. Olemme vakuuttuneita, että syvään osaamiseen ja tieteeseen perustuvat yritykset ovat osa Itämeren alueen suurimpien haasteiden ratkaisua. Siksi tuemme yrittäjiä innovaatioihin ja tutkimukseen perustuvien liiketoimintaratkaisujen luomisessa ja skaalaamisessa.''

The #APELAGOInitaitive2024 footage is here! Just before weekend, let’s relive last weeks vibes with a gallery of photos capturing the essence of A’Pelago Initiative 2024. Discover the gallery here: https://lnkd.in/dBS6CMBp Have you found your favorite photo yet?  We’d love to see it—share and tag us! And don’t forget to acknowledge our energetic Korpoboende photographer who captured these beautiful moments. 📸 Aarón Blanco Tejedor I Ubuntu Productions

#APELAGOInitiative2024 was again one archipelagic business event for the books: 💨 130 attendees 💨 16 speakers  💨 9 fresh sea impact startups 💨 8 Finance and Venture Capital Investors 💨 many others valuable voices ....A heartfelt shoutout to each one of you came there to challenge yourselves, share insights, learn, meet and slash forward initiatives reclaiming the sea.  🙌 Seven days later, we’re still reflecting on the encounters, ideas, and initiative prompts that took place during our gathering in Kemiönsaari. With over 400 actively contributing members in the A’Pelago Network—including investors, startups, islanders, entrepreneurs, NGOs, policymakers, media representatives, creatives, scientists, and academics—our community continues to grow. These individuals keep joining our events, participating in A'Pelago Accelerator activities, and committing to impactful initiatives for the Baltic Sea by combining scientific knowledge and business acumen. Together, we're driving change, one executed initiative at a time. As the #BalticSeaDay, taking place 29.8, approaches, we challenge each of you here to set your plans and goals for the fall ⏩ How will you advance your unique initiative beneficial for the Baltic Sea and the world's oceans this season? Let us know what you’re up to! We’ll also be sharing updates on A'Pelago network's initiatives, along with those that have sparked during the first half of the year 📸Aarón Blanco Tejedor I Ubuntu Productions