For many, the pandemic emphasised the importance of protecting and conserving the world around us, and that is why in the lead up to COP26, the University of Plymouth is aiming to make waves with the next Techstars Startup Weekend event.

Plymouth is already home to the UK’s largest aquarium, but what’s next? Britain's Ocean City is asking the question, what can we do to support new and innovative ideas to emerge from Plymouth.

Around 10% of Plymouth’s employment, and 11% of its GVA comes from the marine sector – and with the city soon to be home to the UK’s first National Marine Park – the Startup Weekend arrives at an important moment.

Beginning on Friday 12th November, participants will be welcomed and encouraged to pitch their ideas and form teams that will see them through the weekend. From there, teams will each be assigned a mentor and undertake workshops before working on their pitches and presenting their ideas to the judges.

In just 54 hours, teams will move from concept to business model and pitch, and participants will have the opportunity to improve their networking skills with the developers, designers and entrepreneurs in attendance. Previous attendees have even found themselves hired on the spot by their mentors – while other teams have gone on to form their own companies.

Professor Chris Bennewith, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, said: “The nation’s marine sector supports more than 950,000 jobs and contributes £46bn to the UK's economy – the size of the sector means there is plenty of opportunity for entrepreneurs and parts of the creative arts sector to collaborate, and engage with issues and opportunities in areas including marine technology, renewables, cruise and leisure, boatbuilding, shipping and marine engineering. 

“With Condé Nast Traveller magazine recently voting Plymouth among the top 10 places in the country to start a business, we have a genuine opportunity to write a new chapter in the long and proud maritime tradition of this city – as a destination of choice for ambitious, high-growth blue-economy enterprise.

"By connecting the marine sector with creatives, there is the opportunity to launch a sustainable step change in Plymouth's creative economy and make Plymouth a more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

Richard May, Head of Oceansgate and Marine Investment, Economic Development, Plymouth City Council said: “It is a great pleasure to be a judge at the Plymouth Marine Startup Weekend. The support for the marine sector in Plymouth and surrounding area has never been so high. The pending Freeport status gives businesses great tax incentives against new investment and a strong springboard for international trade. Indeed, I am keen to see solutions that have deliberate export potential.

“Plymouth and the South West UK have obvious strengths in the sector and the newly formed Ocean Futures programme allows us all to focus and deliver against growing market opportunities in autonomy, decarbonisation, and digital solutions at sea. Exciting times now and ahead.”