“What time is it? Mari-time!” Captain Londy Ngcobo rallies the crowd of investors, companies, and blue economy experts attending the 4th edition of BlueInvest Africa. This line will become the event’s anthem throughout the two-day gathering in Cape Town.
Since 2022, BlueInvest Africa has supported over 80 innovative start-ups and connected them with more than 40 investors committed to ocean impact across Africa. At the 2026 edition, the energy in the room is electric: more than 200 companies applied to pitch their ideas, but only 24 were selected and given four minutes to convince a jury of investors that they could become the next African unicorn.
The winners: well-deserved awards after some sweating on stage
The competition featured five pitching categories in the blue economy, and six awards: one for each category and one overall winner, chosen by the jury and the audience vote.
The overall winner of the 2026 edition is Visenleer, a social-for-profit fashion and material innovation brand founded in Egypt. The company has its roots in Port Said, where the founder and his family have been fishing for generations. Visenleer turns discarded fish skins and waste from the Mediterranean Sea into sustainable biomaterials and textiles. Its patented materials, SeaLoom and FisherShade, caught the attention of fashion companies such as Chanel and Swarovski.
Across the five categories, the following companies stood out to the jury:
Blue Food Systems
GEF’s Smoked Edibles, represented by Oluwafunmilola Shelika, Nigeria. The company has developed an innovative fish-smoking and drying technology that extends product shelf life to more than six months. The technology is also highly energy efficient, reducing energy costs and increasing profits (+33% compared with conventional technologies). By improving food safety, it also supports women in the processing industry to earn higher incomes and better support their families. The business model is highly scalable and replicable.
Circular Ocean Solutions
Oleo Mar Sarl, represented by Sami Guetari, Tunisia. The company recovers and processes waste from the bluefin tuna processing industry, turning fats into high-value omega-3 and nutritional and health supplements. Its supplements are patented internationally.
Climate & Ecosystem Innovation
Trokass, represented by Tabitha Kasongo, Malawi. Trokass is a social enterprise working with more than 4,500 small-scale fish farmers across Malawi to build a stronger, more sustainable aquaculture sector. It supports the sector in four ways: training fish farmers, collecting their fish through local networks, processing it to ensure quality, and distributing it to wider markets. By backing up farmers at every step, the company helps them increase their incomes, reduce food waste, improve food security, and create better opportunities for rural communities.
Data, AI & Robotics
Blutechnova, represented by Jana Ahmed Maher, Egypt. This Egyptian deep-tech startup has developed a smart environmental monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and marine robotics. Its patented system can help detect marine pollution at an early stage, identify hazardous conditions in the water, and monitor the impact of climate change.
Maritime Services & Infrastructure
Berth, represented by Matthew Wilson, South Africa. A solution for marinas and boaters alike! Berth is a digital platform that helps marinas manage bookings, assign berths, and communicate with boaters, in one application. No more whiteboards or spreadsheets: the system displays real-time berth availability and simplifies the entire allocation process.
The blue economy: a wave of opportunities
The potential of the African blue economy is huge.
According to estimates, the African blue economy generates more than USD 300 billion in economic value annually, with a projection to grow up to USD 576 billion by 2063 and supports 500 million jobs across blue economy sectors. Clearly, the challenge is not the lack of ideas, but finding and funding the right support to turn them into long-term impact.
Since 2022, BlueInvest Africa has been building a community and partnerships to make that happen.
The initiative is already bearing fruit, and we had a living example during the event.
Samuel Kimu-Gyau, a former pitcher and 2025 winner, returned to the stage to share the inspiring story of his company, Gold Coast Tokota. Based in Ghana, the company turns plastic waste recovered from the ocean into sustainable footwear.
Samuel started his company in his garage, driven by a dream of building a business with impact. Today he turned that dream into reality.
“BlueInvest Africa opens doors. Thanks to the award, I got a lot of visibility. Winning at BlueInvest has also reinforced our image as a sustainable and profitable business”
Kumi-Gyau Samuel, CEO of Gold Coast Tokota
Following Samuel’s steps is very much within reach: the call for the pitchers for the 2027 edition is now open for applications. A shout-out to all African blue economy ventures out there: do you have what it takes? If you want your moment under the spotlight, apply before 31 December 2026!
Next stop: Luanda, Angola, on 28-29 June 2027
As this edition comes to an end, it is already time to look at the next stop!
BlueInvest Africa 2027 will dock in Luanda, Angola, in June 2027.
BlueInvest Africa is more than an event: it is a community – a place to connect, grow as a business, share experiences and tips, exchange business cards, discover new projects, extend networks and perhaps even make new friends. There is a lot of exciting news in the works, and we look forward to sharing it with you in Luanda!
