OceanHub Africa (OHA) recently launched its five-year Impact Report at Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) 2026 in Durban, showcasing how ocean-impact entrepreneurship is helping drive investment, job creation and environmental resilience across the continent.
The report captures OceanHub Africa’s journey since its launch in 2019 and highlights the measurable outcomes of an Africa-led approach to building a more regenerative and inclusive Blue Economy.
Among the key milestones highlighted in the report:
- More than $20 million mobilised by ventures within the OceanHub Africa ecosystem
- Over 1 700 full-time blue jobs created and sustained
- Women’s participation increased from 24% to 61%
- 149 ocean-impact businesses supported across Africa
- A growing pan-African ecosystem connecting entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and industry leaders
The findings arrive at a time when Africa’s ocean economy is increasingly being recognised as a critical driver of economic growth, climate resilience and sustainable development.
With more than 38 coastal and island states, the continent is uniquely positioned to develop solutions that create both environmental and socio-economic value.
“This report is ultimately about what becomes possible when African entrepreneurs are given the right support, networks and opportunities to scale,” says Alexis Grosskopf, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OceanHub Africa.
“Over the past five years, we have seen founders develop solutions that tackle some of the continent’s most pressing ocean and coastal challenges while creating jobs, attracting investment and building businesses rooted in local realities. The report demonstrates that Africa’s Blue Economy is not a future opportunity – it is already taking shape.”
Since its inception, OceanHub Africa has focused on ensuring that value generated through the Blue Economy remains within Africa by supporting locally driven innovation and entrepreneurship. Rather than concentrating solely on policy and research, the organisation has prioritised helping ventures move from ideas to implementation, while strengthening the wider ecosystem required for long-term growth.
The report outlines OceanHub Africa’s work across four strategic areas: enabling frameworks, capability development, enterprise-driven regeneration and access to finance.
“Over the past five years, we have focused on building the foundations that entrepreneurs need in order to succeed – from market readiness and ecosystem support to partnerships and investment pathways,” says Herland Cerveaux, Managing Director of OceanHub Africa.
“The results reflected in this report show that targeted support can translate into measurable impact. Beyond the capital raised and jobs created, what is most encouraging is the growing maturity of Africa’s ocean-impact ecosystem and the increasing number of founders building scalable solutions for both people and the planet.”
The report also highlights the importance of collaboration across sectors, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, governments, researchers and industry stakeholders to accelerate innovation and unlock new opportunities within Africa’s Blue Economy.
