Innovacion Azul
An innovation ecosystem for marine ecosystem innovators.
2023
About Innovacion Azul
The Latin American Ocean Capital Collective is a dynamic group of stakeholders working together to co-design solutions for the challenges facing Latin America’s oceans and coastal communities. Through a participatory, multi-stakeholder approach, we aim to design, curate, and deploy financial mechanisms that empower ocean entrepreneurs committed to fostering healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities. Our mission is rooted in supporting the region’s vibrant ocean entrepreneurs, enabling them to drive sustainable growth within Latin America’s blue economy. From the Caribbean’s crystal-clear waters to the rugged Pacific coastlines, the region’s oceans are not only stunning but are vital economic assets. The blue economy in Latin America offers immense potential—from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to renewable energy and eco-tourism—contributing over $20 billion to regional GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods. However, significant funding gaps remain, preventing coastal communities from building resilience to climate and global changes. While philanthropy can initiate projects, it cannot sustain them. Meanwhile, traditional finance sectors are cautious due to limited information and uncertainty, and venture capital often prioritizes rapid scaling and high returns, which can be misaligned with local needs. What Latin America’s ocean economy truly needs are scalable, sustainable business models that serve communities and catalyze impactful innovation. The Latin American Ocean Capital Collective aims to bridge this gap by fostering collaboration among ocean entrepreneurs, investors, policy-makers, and environmental stewards. Together, we can unlock the full potential of the region’s oceans through innovative finance and holistic, community-centered approaches.
