Alexandra Amat took home the $9,000 grand prize in the Blue Ocean Prosperity Programme Blue Economy Grant Pitch competition.

BOPP and Ignite Bermuda partnered to host the event at Ignite’s Hamilton headquarters.

The competition was open to the current cohort of Blue Economy entrepreneurs participating in the Ignite Core Programme through the Blue Economy partnership supported by BOPP.

Ms Amat’s venture Blue Backyard not only took the grand prize, but also took the $1,000 People’s Choice Fan Favourite award bringing her total funding from the competition to $10,000.

Noelle Young, representing the Aquaculture Research Centre, received the second-place prize of $5,000 and also won the People’s Choice award for Most Investable Idea, bringing her total funding from the competition to $6,000.

Angela Fubler, representing the Chatmore Foundation’s Bermuda Legacy Institute, was awarded third place and $4,000 in grant funding to support the continued development of her initiative.

Winners were determined by a panel of judges including Simon Van de Weg, chief banking officer at Clarien Bank; Roger Brown, head of commercial banking at Clarien Bank; Sam Bennett, winner of the 2025 Blue Economy pitch competition and founder of EcoDive; and Cheryl-Ann Mapp, BOPP blue economy specialist.

All three participants in this year’s competition have been sponsored by BOPP to take part in Ignite’s entrepreneur accelerator, an award-winning programme designed to develop and scale businesses.

“Ignite is proud to continue our partnership with BOPP in supporting blue economy entrepreneurs in Bermuda,” said Laura Lyons, deputy director at Ignite Bermuda.

“Through Ignite’s accelerator programme, these founders are turning innovative ideas into ventures that support ocean health, sustainable aquaculture, education, and stewardship. It’s incredibly rewarding to see entrepreneurs secure funding that will help them take the next steps in developing and growing their businesses.”

Ms Mapp said: “Partnership with Ignite aligns perfectly with the overarching values of Bermuda’s Blue Prosperity Plan.

“Supporting blue entrepreneurs is part of the wider goal of strengthening Bermuda’s blue economy, which cannot be done without ensuring our ocean remains healthy for future generations.

“Our oceans are the underlying natural asset that enables us to derive socio-economic benefits for our communities.”

BOPP has partnered with Ignite Bermuda across three cohorts, supporting blue economy entrepreneurs through Ignite’s accelerator programme.

To date, eight founders have participated through this partnership, helping build Bermuda’s pipeline of ocean-positive ventures. Blue economy entrepreneurs contribute to sustainable ocean and marine resource management, reduce environmental impacts, and create economic opportunities within their communities.

Blue entrepreneurs include those individuals seeking to start or grow businesses that:

• Tackle challenges facing the ocean, including those resulting from climate change

• Promote the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs

• Support ocean health and protection.

Applications for Ignite Bermuda’s next Accelerator Programme will open next month. Entrepreneurs interested in learning more are invited to attend an open house on Wednesday, April 15 at 5pm at Ignite’s headquarters at 12 Wesley Street, Hamilton.

• More information about BOPP can be found at www.bermudaoceanprosperity.org. More information about Ignite or to RSVP for the Open House, please contact hello@ignitebermuda.com