On July 25, 2018, the Ocean Protection Council approved funding to support a California track of Fish 2.0 to enhance sustainability of fisheries and fishing communities through innovation. The California track of Fish 2.0 is now launched and the California workshop is set for November 28-29 in San Francisco. Any California seafood businesses involved in any aspect of seafood supply chains, climate resilience technologies or seafood production, harvesting and trade, are eligible to apply to participate in this free, two-day workshop. The online competition of the California track of Fish 2.0 will open on November 28, together with the start of the workshop. Additional details are available on the Fish 2.0 California Track homepage, the workshop flyer, as well as OPC’s Fish 2.0 California track project page.

FISH 2.0 FOR SEAFOOD VENTURES

All businesses that participate in Fish 2.0 gain valuable insights from investors and experts to improve their ventures. In the process, they also compete for opportunities to pitch and present to a unique global network of investors and potential supply-chain partners who can help them grow.

What will I get out of participating in Fish 2.0?

Fish 2.0 helps you get your business ready for investors, integrate impacts into your venture;s strategy, and present your ideas effectively to investors and partners. Businesses that demonstrate investment readiness will have multiple opportunities to connect with potential investors and partners in their region and globally.

If you participate in a Fish 2.0 Workshop / Investor reception, you will leave with:

• Training and direct support to clarify, improve, and communicate your business values to investors.

• A short, tailored business pitch that you can share with investors.

• Guidance on participating and succeeding in Fish 2.0.

• You will also be able to join a regional networking event with investors and seafood industry leaders who want to hear about innovative ventures, like yours.

Ventures that continue on to participate in the online competition will benefit even more from:

• Candid feedback from investors and technical experts (each enterprise is reviewed by 3-5 investors during the competition).

• Guidance on how to improve your pitch and how to position your business for growth.

• Visibility and validation for your business among interested investors, customers, and partners.

• Knowledge about how to integrate environmental and social impacts and sustainability into your strategy.

• You are not required to attend a workshop event in order to participate in the online competition. You must, however, meet eligibility requirements for the track you are participating in.

CALIFORNIA TRACK

Apply now to participate as an entrepreneur, investor or expert.

The California track includes both a workshop in San Francisco in November, as well as a dedicated online competition which will launch on November 28. Workshop attendance is helpful, but not required, for online participation. Details and applications are below.

ELIGIBILITY

1. To be eligible, all businesses in this track must either

• Utilize or benefit California fishery resources, OR

• Benefit California seafood supply chains, OR

• Support ocean climate resilience in a way that would have a positive impact on California coasts.

2. Start-up, early stage and established businesses may participate.

3. Ventures must be revenue generating or expect to be revenue generating. They should be seeking either investment or business/industry partnerships, not grant funding.

4. Ventures may be involved in any aspect of seafood supply chains, climate resilience technologies or seafood production, harvesting and trade. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:

• Seafood production, trade and/or supply chains.

• Providing services for fisheries management.

• Technologies and business models that increase climate resilience for fisheries and fishing communities.

• Changing supply chains in ways that promote sustainability and local food systems.

• Creating new forms of seafood storage and logistics, consumer products, processes or products that reduce waste, ways to shorten seafood supply chains or provide local seafood to California consumers including CSFs and others, and other innovations are all eligible.

• Increasing transparency and/or traceability in seafood supply chains.

• Technology-based ventures are welcome and non-technology solutions are also eligible.

• Financial enterprises and investment/loan funds that support sustainable fisheries and seafood.

If you are in doubt about your eligibility, email us at info@fish20.org .