A'Pelago Experience, a privately owned Archipelago Sea protecting business, together with its business partners, has advanced its first Accelerator Program during the spring. The program will culminate in pitching at the A'Pelago Initiative 2024, 16th August.
A'Pelago aims to foster business initiatives with a positive direct or indirect impact on the Finnish Archipelago Sea Region. It arranges annual business accelerator programs and business forums focusing on solving challenges facing our oceans.
The 1st Accelerator Program has offered participating startups business validation and ecosystem. The A'Pelago team and its industry expert partners have helped the participants with business models, branding, go-to-market plans, and growth financing.
The participants in the first Accelerator represent diverse business concepts
ranging from industrial solutions to services, from design to sea-based traveling, and from impact monitoring to sea observation. They can be found in more detail
here and comprise:
- Aila.Earth
- Environmental Impacts Academy
- eTogether Nordic
- Fish Farm 4.0
- Niinmun
- OliOil.io
- Space of Mind
- Subdrone
- Nexamass
‘Business solutions with a positive impact for the Archipelago Sea Region and oceans at large are needed now more than ever. It has been a delight to work with our first Accelerator Program companies. We have made progress in networking within the Accelerator ecosystem, and in upskilling and fostering technologies, solutions and business models that promote sustainable entrepreneurship in and for the archipelago area,” says Patrik Anckar, co-founder of A'Pelago.
The belief that the an Archipelago Sea specific accelerator can provide a broader solution to the biggest ocean challenges of our time has been shared by the A´Pelago Accelerator’s partner organizations: City of Pargas, Åbo Akademi University, LähiTapiola Etelärannikko, Municipality of Kemiönsaari, City of Naantali, Turun Osuuskauppa, Veritas, PBI Foundation, and Lukander Ruohola HTO.
Alina Sippolainen, producer and consultant at A'Pelago, adds: “Attracting more founders and capital to businesses, from various sectors, with a purpose to protect the archipelago sea is crucial. to support and drive innovation across sectors. Our first accelerator program has allowed startup teams to benefit from the A'Pelago ecosystem resources, from industry experts and coaches to our A'Pelago team. This has helped our participants to better reach their full potential to achieve impact and to drive new business opportunities. During the program pilot, we as the A'Pelago ecosystem have learnt a lot.’’
‘’With our second Accelerator program, kicking off in early 2025, we will continue creating optimal conditions, environments, and spaces to work with Archipelago Sea oriented talent and to develop creative, socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable archipelago solutions. Next, the A'Pelago Accelerator will produce a pitching day at the Initiative on August 16th. Thereafter, we will start screening high-potential archipelago impact businesses to join us for the second Accelerator.”
To learn more, please explore A'Pelago Accelerator’s homepage, Accelerator Startups Page or contact Patrik Anckar via patrik@apelago.fi.
