The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the Innovation Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf Blue Navigator, a program of the University of Southern Mississippi Research Foundation, leverages this position to accelerate time-to-revenue for late-stage startups. This four-month blended program provides unique access to expertise, collaboration, research, testing, light manufacturing, funding, and physical infrastructure.

INTRODUCING OUR COHORT-2

The next evolution of subsea vision

Small, low-power, AI-driven underwater cameras

Monitoring Solutions for the Blue Economy

Customizable, automated, underwater multi-sensor monitoring systems

Unprecedented access to ocean data

Small, rugged, autonomous, sailing, ocean measurement drones

Sustainable seafood technology

Shipboard and processing plant seafood catch scanning technology

AI-driven solutions to grow anything, anywhere

Scalable and flexible aquaponic solutions

Building The Future of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Rugged, long-endurance, submersible AUVs

COHORT – 1
DEMO DAY

Interested to learn more about the graduating cohort? Click here to see the six startups.

Application to Cohort II

This comprehensive program provides access to a number of local assets to shorten the development timeline for blue technology startups. Scaling startups will gain market access while engaging with university, industry, state, and federal partners, and potential customers. The Gulf Blue Navigator provides access to state-of-the art research facilities, wet-labs, co-working space, mentors and networking, and year-round access to warm coastal waters.
Program Length

4 Months

Application Portal EXTENDED To

October 11, 2024

Company Stage

Post-Pilot Startups

For Scaling Bluetech Startups

Launching Concepts into Scalable Coastal Impact.

Imagine accessing all the resources your startup needs in one place. If you are looking for a supportive and thriving environment, year-round testing with access to unique infrastructure and capabilities to take your startup to the next step in the fast-growing global ocean economy, this program is designed for you.

Startups who have a prototype and are ready to scale, are welcome to apply! Diverse applicants encouraged.

Our Story

Driving economic growth with world-class coastal assets and expertise

The Gulf Blue Navigator is the Gulf of Mexico’s premier blue-tech accelerator program. It is the innovation gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, bringing startups, people, and jobs, to the Gulf Coast.

After Katrina and other events that significantly impacted the Gulf, USM asked what role they could play to drive economic development for the community and leverage the existing Coastal assets and expertise. USM, working with key regional stakeholders launched the Gulf Blue Initiative fulfilling the state’s Ocean Taskforce plan. As a key element of this initiative, the Gulf Blue Navigator provides programming for startup companies that can benefit from the Gulf Coast ecosystem.