Hatch Blue, recognized as the world’s leading accelerator in aquaculture and alternative seafood, has launched a global call for its CREST 2025 program. This initiative is aimed at innovative, mission-driven companies in their early stages looking to revolutionize the global seafood industry. The program, set to begin in July 2025, represents the next generation of accelerators, meticulously designed to catalyze the growth and impact of startups in the vital sectors of aquaculture, blue carbon, and marine biotechnology.
CREST: An evolution in accelerating blue sector Startups
Based on feedback from hundreds of companies, Hatch Blue has evolved its accelerator model to offer even greater value to startups. The CREST program has been redefined to provide concrete, customized results for each participating company, leveraging the extensive capabilities of the wider Hatch Blue group. It’s no longer just about mentorship and networking; CREST focuses on co-creating ready-to-use business assets, essential for any founder to accelerate their growth and expand their global network of advisors, investors, and industry partners.
With an impressive track record that includes funding 66 companies, over $130 million in assets under management (AUM), and over $150 million raised by its portfolio, Hatch Blue is positioned as a proven catalyst for innovation. Companies joining CREST will benefit from a deep dive into the world’s most important aquaculture ecosystems, with industry visits and in-person workshops in Hawaii, Norway, and Southeast Asia (Singapore, Vietnam/Indonesia).
What does the CREST 2025 program offer? A Comprehensive value proposition
The CREST program is designed to equip startups with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in a competitive and constantly evolving market.
Tangible and strategic business assets
One of CREST’s most significant innovations is the delivery of four concrete outputs, with an estimated collective value of $80,000:
- Comprehensive Market and Competitor Assessment: Conducted by Hatch Innovation Services, this assessment will provide startups with a deep understanding of their first product within the current market context.
- Customized Branding and Marketing Strategy: Developed by the sector-expert marketing agency, The Fish Site, this will include corporate identity work to effectively position the company.
- Robust Intellectual Property Strategy: Hatch Innovation Services will conduct a freedom-to-operate study and a patent landscape analysis, ensuring the startup’s innovation is protected and well-positioned.
- Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): An independent third party will assess the environmental footprint of the product or service, an increasingly crucial factor for investors and conscious consumers.
Global immersion and high-level networking
The program maintains and enhances elements that have proven successful in previous editions:
- Exposure to an Invaluable Global Network: Access to Hatch Blue’s extensive network, built over the last decade, which includes investors, industry representatives, farmers, and first adopters.
- Customer and Industry Discovery Trips: Visits to partner farms and feedmills in Hawaii, Norway, Singapore, and Vietnam/Indonesia, providing a firsthand perspective of the sector’s challenges and opportunities. The program includes an in-person workshop in Hawaii (July 13-19), an industry trip to Norway (September 8-12), and an industry trip to Singapore and Vietnam (October 30 – November 6, dates to be confirmed).
- Personalized Advisory Sessions: Meetings with industry leaders and discussion opportunities tailored to each company’s specific needs.
- Strategic and Financial Advice: Review of the company’s business plan and financial model, along with analysis and advice for investor readiness, conducted by Hatch Blue’s fund managers.
- Vibrant Alumni Community: Upon program completion, companies join a community of over 135 startups and entrepreneurs from previous programs, fostering continuous learning and collaboration.
Investment and program focus
Hatch Blue makes a $75,000 investment in each selected company via an uncapped SAFE note with a tiered discount. Of this amount, $65,000 is in-kind to finance the customized deliverables and full program execution, while $10,000 is provided in cash, intended to cover travel-related program costs. This investment structure reflects Hatch Blue’s commitment to co-building with founders the key components high-growth startups need for success. There is a possibility of follow-on funding from Hatch Blue funds after additional due diligence.
Who are we looking for? The ideal participant profile
CREST actively seeks:
- Excellent, diverse management teams with a minimum of two co-founders.
- Innovative, scalable, and proprietary technology in aquaculture, alternative seafood, or the marine bioeconomy. Sectors of interest include production technology, supply chain, nutrition, health, genetics, alternative seafood, blue carbon, and marine biotechnology.
- Companies on their way to achieving product-market fit.
- Companies where Hatch Blue can provide significant value and additionality.
- Companies with sufficient working capital for a 12-month runway or visibility to achieve it.
- Companies that are majority-owned by management.
It is essential that entrepreneurs can communicate fluently in English for both the application process and interaction with the Hatch Blue team. The program has a global focus and does not invest in technologies that encourage unsustainable practices, antibiotics, chemical health treatments, or generic farming operations.
A flexible program
Recognizing the challenges of building a successful business, CREST offers a hybrid program. The first in-person workshop begins in July 2025 in Hawaii. The CEO is required to attend this workshop and the industry trips to Norway and Southeast Asia to maximize program benefits. More than one representative per company is welcome to attend all trips. Starting in July, monthly virtual advisory sessions with senior industry leaders will be held, complemented by regular check-ins with the program team.
About Hatch Blue: Catalyzing blue innovation globally
Hatch Blue is a catalytic company with a mission to rapidly drive innovation in aquaculture and the blue economy. This is achieved through venture capital investments, world-class entrepreneurship support programs, specialized consulting services, and the provision of high-quality news, analysis, and resources. With a global footprint that includes offices and Innovation Studios in Hawaii, Norway, Ireland, and Singapore, Hatch Blue’s multinational team is deeply committed to making the aquaculture sector and global food production more sustainable.
Apply now and be part of the transformation!
Applications for the CREST 2025 program are reviewed on a rolling basis, and founders can apply year-round. There is no strict deadline, but capacity for each in-person workshop and industry trip is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The investment team will contact companies that demonstrate a good fit with the program’s objectives.
Apply now to begin your CREST journey and unlock the next wave of innovation in the sustainable blue economy: https://www.hatch.blue/crest-accelerator
For more information:
For more information on investment terms, please consult the brochure and this informational document. Hatch Blue funds offer complementary financing.
About the program: Benedict Tan, Programme Director, benedict@hatch.blue
About the investment process: Caitriona Kelleher, MD, Early Stage Investments, caitriona@hatch.blue
Editor at the digital magazine AquaHoy. He holds a degree in Aquaculture Biology from the National University of Santa (UNS) and a Master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with postgraduate diplomas in Business Innovation and Innovation Management. He possesses extensive experience in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, having led the Fisheries Innovation Unit of the National Program for Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture (PNIPA). He has served as a senior consultant in technology watch, an innovation project formulator and advisor, and a lecturer at UNS. He is a member of the Peruvian College of Biologists and was recognized by the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2016 for his contribution to aquaculture.
