Women In Ocean Food Latin America & Caribbean
female-focused Innovation Studios hosted to date
companies from 24 countries graduated
in total funding raised by Women in Ocean Food alumni
Ocean food sustains the livelihoods of more than 600 million people around the world (FAO, 2024), but women continue to be left out of key roles in the sector.
The Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio is actively working to address these gender disparities by hosting an equity-free, business support program for female founders and leadership teams driving change in the blue economy.
The program equips startup founders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to build solutions and drive change across sustainable aquaculture, marine biotech, seafood value chains, ocean conservation, and blue carbon.
Participants receive mentorship from global industry experts, curated connections, and ongoing post-program support to accelerate commercial growth and real-world impact.
This year, Women in Ocean Food Goes Global
In 2021, Hatch Blue hosted the first iteration of an all-female program. In 2022, we partnered with Conservation International Ventures to deliver the inaugural Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio in Southeast Asia. By 2024, the movement expanded to Latin America and the Caribbean. And in 2025, the initiative will officially go global with the launch of the first Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio in Africa!
Join the program to receive
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
Our core offering
![[WIOF] Strategy Support](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940ac0867c323c5a2f904b_chart-dots-3.avif){kind=icon}
Support with company formation, business strategy, product commercialization, and fundraising strategy
![[WIOF] Long-term Support](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940b855f1c3be3a7b45869_message-heart.avif){kind=icon}
Long-term support and access to network of dedicated venture philanthropists and impact investors; monthly post-program follow-ups
![[WIOF] Follow-on Investment](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940aacfed9356b25ddcbf6_businessplan.avif){kind=icon}
Potential for follow-on investment with Hatch Blue and CIV
![[WIOF] Local Discovery Trips](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940be0dcc91489afa5f9d2_camera.avif){kind=icon}
Local industry discovery trips to area farms
![[WIOF] Individualized Mentorship](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940bca445032e29e3f1725_report.avif){kind=icon}
Individualized mentorship; teams are paired with relevant industry leaders & also participate in 1-to-1 sessions with Hatch Blue and Conservation International teams
![[WIOF] Global Female-Led Company Network](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66c43d1ff35aa2c84ea8655f/67940a0514ea6e90a6b6a243_world.avif){kind=icon}
Opportunity to connect with global network of female-led companies operating throughout the blue economy
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat."
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat."
"I felt inspired and motivated by the energy of the other participants and the quality of the resources and activities offered."
"These were days of full immersion in learning, growth, and connections that profoundly impacted my vision, both professionally and personally."
"An experience that exceeded all my expectations, a safe space, with a lot of feedback, greatly expanded my knowledge and helped me have a more strategic vision of my business, with greater projections."
Investment
We invest across the following sectors
Contact Us
For questions about the current program please contact our team
Partners
.avif)
FAQs
The application deadline is Friday, 31 October 2025.
The program starts on Monday, 26 January 2026.
The program lasts 12 months and begins with a full-time 10-day studio.
The 2026 program will be based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Whilst there is no equity investment during the program, there is opportunity to meet investors within our network who may seek to invest in your company, including Hatch Blue and Conservation International Ventures.
All travel, accommodation, and food costs will be covered by the program for those successful applications (2 participants per team).
You do not need to have a registered entity upon application but we expect that you are ready to do so by the end of the program.
Yes, you are still eligible.
One but ideally two co-founders.
Yes, on-site presence is required as we will run all activities in one location. In our experience, physically connecting with the cohort, Hatch Blue team and its mentors is far more rewarding and productive.
Yes, on the final day, we host a Community Day where selected finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to key stakeholders and investors in the audience.
Following the studio, Hatch Blue and Conservation International Ventures remain active partners supporting fundraising, refining business models, and, most critically, helping teams win customers. If a company is ready for investment and aligns with our criteria, we may consider making an investment.
Hatch Blue was conceived in late 2017 by co-founders Carsten Krome, Georg Baunach and Wayne Murphy, with the goal to revolutionise the way we produce seafood through investing in its technological development.
There is no specific requirement for you to disclose your confidential information (including any trade secrets) or IP during your attendance. However, if you do wish to share any information with us, Hatch Blue, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy and all founding or organizing teams will ensure that all information is kept totally confidential and will not be shared without your written permission.
Program specific questions
Can any woman in the company apply for the studio?
Only projects or companies that are led by women, founded or co-founded by women, or where women are true decision makers will be considered eligible.
In what language is the program delivered?
The program is delivered in both English and Spanish, with live interpretation services available .