Funding

Grant

Program dates

Oct 25, 2026 – Oct 27, 2026

Entrepreneurship•USA · Fort Lauderdale

Ocean Exchange Neptune Award

Ocean Exchange

Application Deadline

August 7, 2026

Official Page

The Neptune Award is the flagship prize of Ocean Exchange, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps accelerate the adoption of ocean-sustainability solutions. Each year it awards three $100,000 USD cash prizes to organizations whose innovations advance ocean health and the blue economy. The money is non-dilutive — Ocean Exchange takes no equity. Solutions are judged on innovation, impact, and execution, and span areas such as alternative materials, clean energy, data and robotics, and fisheries and marine-habitat restoration. Applicants enter through one of three regional rounds, and finalists present in person at the Ocean Exchange gathering in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Benefits & funding

  • Three awards of $100,000 USD each, given as non-dilutive grants (no equity taken).
  • Additional recognition and exposure to the Ocean Exchange network of investors, corporates, and mentors.
  • Finalists are invited to present their solutions at the annual Ocean Exchange event.

Eligibility

  • Open to organizations with a working solution that improves ocean health or advances the sustainable blue economy.
  • Applicants must have a registered entity and an employee within the region under which they apply.
  • Open to solutions worldwide; each applicant selects a home region where it has an established business presence.
  • No nationality restriction; judged on the merit of the solution across innovation, impact, and execution.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Applications open around 1 March via the Ocean Exchange website on the F6S platform, with a separate portal for each region.
  2. 2
    Submit your solution through the F6S portal for your home region before that region’s deadline.
  3. 3
    Around 30 global semifinalists are selected for further review and contacted by 31 August.
  4. 4
    Twelve finalists are announced on 25 September and invited to present at the Ocean Exchange event.
  5. 5
    Winners of the three Neptune Awards are chosen at the event in Fort Lauderdale.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open on F6S

    1 March 2026

  2. Deadline — Asia & Oceania region

    12 June 2026

  3. Deadline — Europe, Middle East & Africa region

    10 July 2026

  4. Deadline — The Americas region

    7 August 2026

  5. Semifinalists contacted

    31 August 2026

  6. Finalists announced

    25 September 2026

  7. Ocean Exchange event and award ceremony, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

    25–27 October 2026