Rhode Island is home to many innovative organizations and startups that building and growing in the Blue Economy. Join this roundtable discussion to hear from an array of industry thought leaders as they give a deep dive overview of what it’s like to be a company in this industry and how to best leverage what Rhode Island has to offer.

Agenda: 

• Pete Rumsey of University of Rhode Island Ventures gives an overview of the Blue Economy ecosystem and a brief on the RI BETC current RI Blue Economy Strategy.
• Jamie Buck of RI Commerce gives an overview of initiatives Commerce RI is taking in the Blue Economy and a glance of what's happening in Offshore Wind sector.
• Harley Hayes of SeaAhead gives insight into the world of BlueTech and how their organization supports the ecosystem through their programs.
• Open discussion

About RI Commerce 

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation works with public, private and nonprofit partners to create the conditions for businesses in all sectors to thrive and to improve the quality of life for our citizens by promoting the state’s long-term economic health and prosperity. We offer business assistance, access to funding and red tape reduction for companies of all sizes.

About SeaAhead

At SeaAhead, we are on a mission to launch new ocean-related ventures into scalable businesses. We are a community of entrepreneurs, technologists, mentors, and investors seeking solutions to the toughest challenges facing the ocean. We believe that ocean impact is a critical part of sustainability. We are a public benefit corporation based on the principle that Bluetech startups can deliver triple-bottom line impact.The businesses we work with will generate direct environmental benefits, deliver economic value to their investors and local communities, and create jobs in under-resourced coastal neighborhoods.

About URI Ventures

The University of Rhode Island faculty, staff, and student research often leads to new companies, cutting-edge patents, and innovative public-private partnerships. URI Ventures (formerly the URI Research Foundation) oversees market analysis, commercialization of protected intellectual property, and the development of business relationships with corporate and government partners. These commercialization activities advance Rhode Island’s economy while improving society and human lives.