Building San Francisco’s
Blue Economy
SF Blue Tech is the premiere community and monthly networking ecosystem for ocean tech startups, marine scientists, maritime professionals and coastal stewards hosted at the South Beach Yacht Club in San Francisco.
From deep tech hardware to AI-driven ocean analytics, the brightest minds building ocean technology come here to invent, protect, monitor, analyze and network.
- marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), methane and ocean acidification mitigation
- ocean data science, marine AI and monitoring systems
- marine science, biology and oceanography research
- tidal energy and wave power innovations
- aquaculture, oyster restoration, seaweed cultivation and sustainable fisheries
- ocean, coastal and estuary habitat regeneration
- autonomous maritime platforms including submersibles, ROVs, AUVs and electric boats
- sailing and commercial port trades
- ocean investment, climate tech venture capital and blue economy funding
- plastic alternatives, waste reduction and coastal cleanup initiatives
SF Blue Tech is the regional launchpad where tech startups showcase cutting-edge marine innovations to peer founders, climate tech investors, industry analysts and maritime leaders.
upcoming events:
december 10
holiday mixer scientists vs. sailors
january 14
stuff that floats
we have three focus areas:
1.
on-rampling blue tech start ups &
fueling the workforce pipeline
2.
regenerating sf bay,
coastlines & the ocean
3.
educating and activating
the community
receive event notices
what is the value of the blue economy and ocean sector?
- 4 in 10 Americans are employed in coastal counties, with 53 million jobs contributing $7 trillion to the national economy, Center for the Blue Economy/NOAA
- 37% of U.S. employment is located along American shorelines, Center for the Blue Economy / NOAA
- Globally, more than 30 million ocean jobs contribute to this sector, London School of Economics and Political Science
- The Blue Economy accounts for 2.5% of added world gross value, OECD
- The ocean economy is expected to grow to $3 trillion (USD) in 2030, OECD
- Demand for maritime commerce is expected to double by 2025, US Coast Guard
$51bn
The U.S. blue economy contributes $7 trillion to the national economy, and $51 billion annually to California’s GDP alone, according to NOAA Office of Coastal Management.
what is blue tech?
Blue tech drives sustainable ocean innovation, remediation and regeneration. This segment includes technologies, systems and platforms designed for application or use on, above or within the ocean.
A broad business vertical, it is comprised of entities and companies working on everything from AI-driven ocean mapping to sustainable wave energy, from fisheries and aquaculture to maritime data and sensors and more.
community and events FAQ
- What should I expect at an SF Blue Tech meetup?
- Do I need to RSVP to attend?
- How do I attend SF Blue Tech meetups or join the mailing list?
- What topics do SF Blue Tech presenters cover?
- What is the agenda for an SF Blue Tech happy hour?
- Where are ocean tech and blue economy networking events in the San Francisco Bay Area?
- Are SF Blue Tech events open to pitching or selling?
- I am visting San Francisco, may I attend an SF Blue Tech event?
Expect a high-energy, welcoming environment filled with marine scientists, startup founders, investors, students, civic leaders and more.
SF Blue Tech meetups feature short expert presentations or panel discussions on cutting-edge ocean technology, followed by structured, collaborative networking where you connect directly with the Bay Area’s leading blue economy innovators.
We try to adhere to this timing:
5:30 – 6:30pm: networking, bar, food
6:30 – 6:45pm: welcome and updates
6:45 – 7:30pm: guest speaker(s)
7:30pm until 8pm (some nights we remain longer): networking, bar, food
To join our community and stay updated on upcoming gatherings, subscribe to the mailing list at https://sfbluetech.com/climate-tech-events/subscribe-to-newsletter/
To attend a gathering, simply RSVP on our website event pages. Look for ‘climate tech events’ up top.
SF Blue Tech panels and showcases cover a broad spectrum of ocean technology, marine science and coastal innovation topics, including:
Port of San Francisco Blue Economy Initiative: The Port of San Francisco is shaping the future of the regional blue economy. At this session, we spotlight collaborative initiatives supporting maritime startups, sustainable waterfront development and ocean technology.
Biomimicry & Ocean Innovation: Nature has spent billions of years perfecting sustainable design, fluid dynamics and resilience. At this showcase, we explore how engineers, marine scientists, and startups are translating biological strategies from the ocean into cutting-edge maritime technology.
Autonomous Maritime Systems: Uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), autonomous submersibles and marine robotics with Ulysses.
Cell-Cultivated Agriculture & Sustainable Seafood: Next-generation maritime biotech and cellular aquaculture solutions with Wildtype.
AI-Driven Ocean Analytics & Monitoring: High-tech data systems used to protect, monitor and analyze marine ecosystems with SOFAR.
SF Blue Tech meetups feature short expert presentations or panel discussions on cutting-edge ocean technology, followed by structured, collaborative networking where you connect directly with the Bay Area’s leading blue economy innovators.
We try to adhere to this timing:
5:30 – 6:30pm: networking, bar, food
6:30 – 6:45pm: welcome and updates
6:45 – 7:30pm: guest speaker(s)
7:30pm until 8pm (some nights we remain longer): networking, bar, food
These gatherings bring together startup founders, marine scientists, maritime professionals, civic leaders, students, educators and more for expert presentations, discussions and community connection.
- Pitching of competiting product or service is not permitted.
- Whereas we recognize the value or marketing, public relations, SEO and similar business services, please do not attend for business development objectives.
- Banks, funding, financing and startup investment professionals are welcome to attend, but should not attend purely to “distribute and collect business cards.’ We seek conversations with individuals who understand this space.
Absolutely. We welcome visiting blue tech founders, investors, researchers and maritime professionals from out of town.
Whether you’re in the Bay Area for a conference or passing through, join us at the South Beach Yacht Club to connect with the local ocean community.