“BLUE HACKATHON”
FOR INVESTMENT/FUNDING
This is an ACCELERATION program to develop innovative business ideas in the Ocean and Coastal Economy sector and to strengthen the knowledge of the Blue Economy as the new world phenomenon. Participants will enquire business skills and tools required for successfully implementing new business ideas as a Blue Entrepreneur. This programme offers ambitious founders’ skills on how to rapidly build and develop startups or current SSME’s with funding and investment opportunities at the end of the programme.
This transformational programme was developed to implement a myriad of activities aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to engage actively in sustainable blue economy careers and offer them support through their business, entrepreneurial and career journey.
Activities allow the delegates to interact, share and exchange knowledge and ideas. The content is dedicated to analysing, identifying the specific characteristics, and developing innovative entrepreneurship projects.
Participants will learn about national and international existing Blue Economy businesses and the economic prospects. The course content explores all the various enablers/sectors of the Blue Economy and promotes economic growth. After completion the delegates will be able to effectively search for business and career opportunities within all the Enablers of the Blue Economy or scale their current businesses or skills into a lucrative Blue Business. Participants will also have extensive knowledge on entrepreneurship, how to write a winning business proposal, how to start a successful business, seek funding and manage and scale the business.
WHY IS THE BLUE (OCEAN AND COASTAL) ECONOMY
THE NEW FRONTIER FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND INVESTORS?
South-Africa has a coastline of 3 900km with an exclusive economic zone of 1.5 million square km more than the land mass of 1.2 million square km. The Blue Economy has a potential to contribute up to R177 billion to the South-African GDP by 2033 and create over one million jobs as well as transformation and greater inclusion and opportunities for SMME’s. Over 30 000 vessels pass South-Africa’s coast on an annual basis with 13 000 docking in our ports. Around 80 oil rigs are estimated to be in range of the Western Cape alone offering significant potential for repairs in our ports. 300 million tonnes of cargo and 1.2 million tonnes of liquid fuel are transported along South-Africa’s coast. Aquaculture has the potential to grow to a sector revenue of R3 billion. Tourism is seeing an exponential increase in Adventure, Cultural and Food Tourism packages.
Pillars of the Blue Economy
Marine Transport
Ocean, Coastal and inland passenger water transport, freight transport, services for transport – renting and leasing water transport equipment
Marine Manufacturing
Building of boats and ships of various classes, maintenance, refurbishment and repair of vessels and oil rigs
Offshore Oil and Gas
Offshore oil and gas extraction to develop oil fields and natural gas deposits under the ocean. Wind energy to generate energy with windmills installed in coastal waters
Aquaculture
The breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae and other organisms in all types of water environments
Marine Protection Services and Ocean Governance
Managing and using the world’s oceans and their resources in ways that keep them healthy, productive, safe, secure, and resilient. Protection from illegal activities and promote socio-economic benefits and results
Small Harbours Development
Developing and expanding small harbours to drive economic growth through small scale fisheries and other small coast vessel and general commercial opportunities to encourage inclusivity
Ocean, Coastal and Gastronomy Tourism
Recreational activities taking place in the proximity of the ocean (swimming, walking, wildlife watching, cultural and culinary activities) and activities in the ocean (sailing, scuba diving, cruising, surfing)
Blue (Ocean and Coastal Economy) Development
What delegates will learn about the Blue Economy Environment
- Blue Economy as a Driver for sustainable Economic Development
- Facts and recent data
- Concept of Blue Economy and its importance
- Specialties, roles and working conditions
- Best practices, case studies and innovation experiences from different sectors and countries
- Job and Entrepreneurial Opportunities
- Training and education required
- Specialties, roles and working conditions
Entrepreneurial Development
What delegates will learn:
Understand the strategic principles behind powerful initiatives
Evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses
Design a leadership development process
Scale up commercial and/or export aims
Exactly what are your interests
Peer-to-peer circles
What delegates will learn:
Operational process for manufacturing and services
Production Management
Project Management
What delegates will learn:
Social Media, learn how to research, evaluate and measure impact of social initiatives
Harness the skills to successfully market and communicate value propositions
How do you set yourself apart from competition
Exactly who is the market
Is the venture lucrative
Traditional Marketing
Website creation
Networking Groups
What delegates will learn:
Attract and retain donors, investors and key partners
Projections, forecast and plan for sustainable growth
Identify new and creative revenue streams
Decide on type of financing needed
Income statements
Budgeting
Cashflow
Costing
What delegates will learn:
Where and how to gather documentation and information
What should be included in a business plan
Draft Business Plan Short and Long term
Formulate Business Plan outline
A unique opportunity to take part in the “Blue Hackathon” to receive funding for your business.
All the participants on completion of the programme will have the opportunity to present their business ideas/plans to a panel of judges from various sectors within the Blue Economy and other successful business owners. This will give participants the opportunity to interact with industry, academic and research institutions. The first round of presentations will provide participants with an exceptional opportunity to test, demonstrate and validate their idea and identified opportunity. This will also be a “pitch practice” session to become investor ready. The panel will also give direct feedback on how to enhance their project’s profile.
Ten will be chosen to present to a panel of investors. The panel will choose candidates that they are interested to fund, give assistance with the identified opportunity, and put this into practice. The “Blue Hackathon” will take place two months after completion of the programme to give participants enough time to do research, compile the business plan but also to receive coaching and mentoring from DQSS.
Who
Should Attend
- Entrepreneurs currently operating in the Blue Economy that wants to scale their business
- Entrepreneurs and anyone wanting to emerge into the Blue Economy Opportunities
- Youth interested in a startup in the Blue Economy
- Employees of companies operating within the Blue Economy
- Life Orientation Teachers
- Academics
- Social workers
- NPO’s working in communities to alleviate poverty
What
Are the Cost, Duration and Dates?
The programme is facilitated over a 2-week period at the cost of R5900 per participant that also includes one fieldtrip to existing Blue Economy Businesses.
Participants have two options:
- To attend the programme as a full back-to-back 10 days
- To attend the programme 3 days per month until completion