The OceanLove Innovation Award is an annual global challenge run by OceanLove, a volunteer-driven non-profit based in Amsterdam and endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Activity. It looks for early-stage products, tools, campaigns and initiatives that protect the ocean from pollution, overfishing and the loss of marine life. Individuals, teams, non-profit organisations, cooperatives, social enterprises and mission-driven companies may all enter, provided the idea is still at idea, prototype or pilot stage and carries no more than 30,000 EUR in existing funding. Entries compete in three categories — Living Sea, Blue Circle and Wavemakers. The 2026 round is the third edition; the 2025 round drew 260 applications from more than 80 countries, of which 30 were shortlisted and 10 named finalists. Applying and judging happen online; winners are revealed at a ceremony at the AltaSea premises in Los Angeles on 11 October 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Grant awards of up to US$10,000. The applying page states the award supports the 10 best ideas with seed money.
- For reference, the 2025 edition awarded €10,000 (first place), then €5,000, €3,000, €2,000 and €1,000, plus a €1,000 encouragement prize.
- A place at the Investment Readiness Bootcamp in mid-September for shortlisted applicants; the site does not publish its format or length.
- Backing and advice from experienced social entrepreneurs and global advisers.
- Media outreach through OceanLove’s partner network, which includes Brightvibes, The Optimist and the UN Ocean Decade.
- Applicants keep ownership of what they submit — the organisers state that the idea always remains yours.
Eligibility
- Individuals and teams anywhere in the world, of all ages, cultures and levels of education.
- Non-profit organisations, cooperatives, social enterprises and mission-driven companies.
- Projects or products at idea, prototype or pilot stage.
- Existing funding between 0 and 30,000 EUR.
- The entry must fit one of the three categories; within Blue Circle, submissions that only clean up and add nothing further are excluded.
- No nationality, residency, degree or work-experience requirement is stated.
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
- 1Pick one of the three categories: Living Sea, Blue Circle or Wavemakers.
- 2Submit the online form at apply.oceanloveawards.com before 31 August 2026 — title, applicant or team name, category, contact details, the problem and the proposed solution, project location, community impact, and two images of up to 10 MB each.
- 3Shortlisted applicants are notified in early September.
- 4Take part in the Investment Readiness Bootcamp in mid-September; the top 10 are announced in the same period.
- 5The top 5 are announced on 30 September.
- 6Winners are revealed at the award ceremony on 11 October 2026 at AltaSea in Los Angeles.
Program timeline
Applications open
Apr 1, 2026
Application deadline
Aug 31, 2026
Bootcamp participants notified
Early September 2026
Investment Readiness Bootcamp; top 10 announced
Mid-September 2026
Top 5 announced
Sep 30, 2026
Award ceremony at AltaSea, Los Angeles
Oct 11, 2026