Hatch Blue AquaScale BIM Innovation Studio+

Enriched Impact Investor · Found: 2026-03-11 11:22

Program for Irish aquatech scale-ups in sustainable aquaculture. Connects participants with Hatch Blue investment team. For active companies with customers, pilots, or revenue preparing for expansion into aquaculture. Deadline March 31, 2026.

Source: https://hatch.blue/programs/aquascale

Funding Details

Funder

Hatch Blue / Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)

Funding Goal

Support Irish aquatech scale-ups in sharpening market position, commercial strategy, and execution readiness for expansion in the aquaculture sector

Funding Amount

No cost and no equity taken. No direct financial investment provided; access to Hatch Blue investment network available post-program.

Deadline

2026-03-31 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Apply via CognitoForms application form (linked from program page). Deadline: March 31, 2026, 5pm GMT. Info deck available via DocSend for further details.

Target Region

Ireland

Contact

Jessica Giannoumis, PhD — Community Manager, Ireland. Email: jessica@hatch.blue. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessica-giannoumis/. General inquiries: info@hatch.blue

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Must be a registered company (not a non-profit, NGO, or individual) actively selling into the aquaculture market
• Must be an Irish aquatech scale-up — geographic focus is Ireland only
• Company must already have customers, pilots, or revenue — pre-revenue ventures are explicitly excluded

Project Scope

• Company must be selling into aquaculture (salmon or shrimp value chains); first-market-entry stage not eligible
• Program covers strategic market positioning, go-to-market analysis, and commercial execution planning — not basic incubation or pitch training

Required Documents

• Submit application via CognitoForms by March 31, 2026, 5pm GMT

Constraints

• Full-time in-person attendance in Galway (PorterShed) for all three days (May 26-28, 2026) is mandatory
• Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the program

Summary

The AquaScale BIM Innovation Studio+ is a three-day in-person intensive program co-hosted by Hatch Blue and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland's Seafood Development Agency. Held May 26-28, 2026, at PorterShed in Galway, it targets established Irish aquatech companies that are already generating revenue or running pilots and are preparing for their next growth phase — particularly within salmon or shrimp value chains. The program offers deep market and positioning work, strategic workshops focused on real commercial trade-offs, go-to-market and competitive analysis conducted by Hatch Blue Consulting, and direct access to the full Hatch Blue and BIM teams. After the intensive, participants receive tailored one-to-one follow-up support. Crucially, there is no cost to participate and no equity is taken — though participants do gain exposure to Hatch Blue's investment network for future fundraising. The program is explicitly not designed for early-stage startups, pre-revenue ventures, or companies seeking basic incubation or pitch training. It targets companies that have already achieved market traction and are asking strategic questions about where to focus and scale. Full-time attendance for all three days is mandatory, and travel costs are not covered. To date, 66 companies have participated in the broader BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio program series, collectively raising over €28M in funding and creating 173 jobs. The program culminates in an international Aquatech stakeholder event on October 19, 2026.

Historical Context

The BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio program has accepted 66 companies to date, with alumni collectively raising €28M+ in total funding and creating 173 jobs. Hatch Blue was founded in 2017 by Carsten Krome, Georg Baunach, and Wayne Murphy. AquaScale is an evolution of the existing BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio, specifically targeting scale-stage companies.

Why it was added

CE/waste accelerator or incubator

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