Latin America and the Caribbean produce some of the world's most commercially significant seafood, from Ecuador's shrimp industry to Brazil's tilapia sector and coastal seaweed value chains. The women building companies across those value chains face inequitable access to capital and supporting networks, yet remarkable growth stories have emerged in recent years. Women in Ocean Food surfaces these founders early, helping them build their business and raise capital or grants.

The Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio is an equity-free business support program for women 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 and regenerative aquaculture, marine biotech, aquatech, seafood value chains, seafood waste revalorization, and blue carbon.

Participants receive mentorship from global industry experts, curated networks, and 12 months of support following the 9-day in-person studio  to accelerate commercial growth and impact.

A global movement

In 2021, Hatch Blue hosted the first iteration of an all-female program. In 2022, we partnered with Conservation International Ventures to deliver the first Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the movement expanded to Latin America and the Caribbean, and has since gone global with the first Women in Ocean Food Studio hosted in Africa, 2026. 

Join the innovators - 68 teams from 32 countries  across three continents