A new wave of African entrepreneurs targeting the continent’s fast-emerging Blue Economy has been selected for investment and scaling support by OceanHub Africa, in a move underscoring growing investor confidence in locally built climate and ocean solutions.
The accelerator said it had admitted a fresh cohort of ocean-impact ventures into its portfolio, highlighting what it described as a shift from promise to execution in Africa’s marine economy, where startups are tackling pollution, sustainable food production and coastal resilience.
The selected ventures, spanning Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar, are developing commercially viable solutions across waste management, aquaculture, fintech and climate technology. These sectors are increasingly seen as critical to unlocking Africa’s estimated $300 billion Blue Economy potential.
“These founders are building practical, locally rooted solutions that prove the Blue Economy isn’t a future promise, it’s a real and growing market across Africa,” OceanHub Africa said in a statement.
African Founders Drive Innovation Across Key Sectors
Among the cohort is Algaepool, founded by Taieb Nemissi and Dominique Delobel in Tunisia, which is scaling microalgae production systems aimed at supporting climate-resilient coastal communities.
Kenya’s Chemolex Company Ltd, led by Clifford Okoth and Martina Sikawa, is deploying waste capture devices and modular recycling hubs to convert ocean-bound plastic into sustainable construction materials, addressing one of Africa’s most pressing pollution challenges.
Also in Kenya, Eco Prints Generation, founded by Gabriel Mwaingo and Deogratias Taka, is turning plastic waste into educational tools, while EcoTech NatureWise, led by Rugendo Charles and Lydia Ochuka, is converting invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable biofoam packaging to replace Styrofoam in industrial supply chains.
Tanzania’s Global Green Packaging Solutions, founded by Tatu Kassim, Nasra Irunde, Sabrina Saidi and Shabani Hassan, is developing alternatives to conventional plastics to reduce marine pollution and strengthen circular supply chains.
Blue Food and Aquaculture Gain Momentum
Food security and sustainable fisheries are also central to the cohort.
Kenya-based GreatLakes Feeds Ltd, founded by Mathildah Amollo and Fred Obudho, is producing affordable fish feed and hatchery-bred fingerlings to promote sustainable aquaculture and reduce overfishing pressures.
In Tanzania, KCG Aquatec Company Limited, led by Stephano Adrian, Ashura Shabani and Christian Pesambili, operates a vertically integrated aquaculture model focused on tilapia cage farming and fish production in the Lake Victoria region.
Meanwhile, Madagascar’s Mena Tsook, founded by Sarobidy Rakotonjatovo and Dr. Herisandratra Rakotonjatovo, is converting invasive sea urchins into high-value products including cosmetics, seafood and eco-friendly crafts blending conservation with commercialisation.
Climate Resilience and Circular Economies
Several startups are targeting climate resilience and circular economy models.
Kenya’s Nasaru Naturals, founded by Janno van der Laan, Selena Grover and Sifen Hailu, is producing spirulina, a nutrient-rich superfood, in its natural environment, positioning itself within sustainable food and health value chains.
Tanzania’s Preyo Company Limited, led by Abdalah Nyambi, Wenceslaus Soka and Steward Amuli, is building a community-driven recycling system that transforms plastic waste into raw materials.
The People and Planet Group’s Natural Living, founded by Maliehaa Sumar and Adnan Sumar, is developing traceable value chains for natural products sourced from biodiverse ecosystems, targeting premium health and wellness markets.
In the fintech space, Kenya’s VUA Solutions, led by Matthew Egessa and Titus Nyandoro, is deploying AI-powered tools to connect coastal fishers to finance and fair markets, aiming to stabilise incomes while promoting sustainable fishing practices.
From pipeline to scale
OceanHub Africa said inclusion in its portfolio signals that ventures are ready to move beyond early-stage development into structured growth, supported by capital access, strategic advisory and ecosystem partnerships.
The startups will present their solutions at a live investor pitch event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on June 5, 2026, bringing together funders, development partners and industry stakeholders in the Blue Economy.
The event will include a showcase of the ventures, a networking session and a panel discussion focused on scaling ocean-impact businesses across Africa.
Africa’s Blue Economy, encompassing fisheries, aquaculture, marine transport and coastal tourism is gaining attention as a frontier for sustainable growth, particularly as climate pressures intensify.
However, the sector has historically faced underinvestment, fragmented value chains and limited access to early-stage capital.
Accelerators such as OceanHub Africa are seeking to close that gap by supporting entrepreneurs capable of delivering both environmental impact and commercial returns.
The latest cohort signals that African innovation is increasingly rooted in solving local environmental challenges while building scalable, investable businesses.
As OceanHub Africa put it, the focus now shifts from selection to execution “sharper strategy, stronger systems and bigger rooms” as these ventures move to secure partnerships and funding.
For Africa’s emerging class of ocean entrepreneurs, the Blue Economy is no longer conceptual. It is operational and expanding.
