The Blue Catalyst open innovation challenge was first announced in September 2025 to advance innovation in blue carbon measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and project development, by bringing together global startups to solve real-world implementation challenges.
The challenge attracted strong global interest, with over 130 applications from startups and technology providers from 37 countries. Ten finalist companies were then selected to participate in a two-week accelerator programme hosted in Singapore, where they learnt from practitioners across conservation, finance, and technology, and tested assumptions against field-based project development in Southeast Asia. The finalists developed solutions across areas such as geospatial mapping, carbon stock and flux modelling and biodiversity monitoring.
WWF will assess the potential to pilot the solutions by the finalists as part of the Blue Carbon Support Programme (BCSP) and Canopy3. The BCSP supports the co-development and deployment of technology solutions that address technical and operational challenges in blue carbon projects. Canopy unlocks finance for 12,000 hectares of nature restoration while strengthening the capacity of carbon project developers to carry out the restoration. These initiatives aim to scale high-integrity blue carbon projects across the region.
At today’s Blue Catalyst Demo Day, six companies were further selected from the 10 finalists based on their solutions’ technological potential, business traction and feasibility to scale. These companies presented their solutions to blue carbon investors, project developers and other partners, providing them opportunities to secure potential capital, partnerships and market access needed to scale their solutions.
