EU aims to mobilize more than €1 billion by 2028 through BlueInvest for the blue economy

On August 18, 2026, the European Commission published an overview of BlueInvest, an initiative supporting blue economy startups and small and midsize enterprises. Launched in 2019, the initiative aims to mobilize more than €1 billion in public and private investment by 2028. Blue economy small and midsize enterprises in the EU are estimated to face a funding gap of €60 billion to €70 billion, and BlueInvest offers programs including investment-readiness support, fundraising assistance and investor training.

The EU's effort to address the blue economy's funding gap through a public framework could change the fundraising environment for ocean-related startups. For investors, it could open up new investment opportunities; for companies, meeting environmental standards will be a condition for securing funding.

The overview of BlueInvest shows that the European Commission views the blue economy as a growth sector and plans to systematically strengthen support for fundraising. One notable feature is its combination of programs at different stages, including investment-readiness assistance, fundraising assistance and investor capacity building, rather than simply providing funding. This approach reflects the view that a lack of investor understanding is also a factor behind the funding gap, and addresses both the demand and supply sides. In particular, fundraising assistance supports preparation for negotiations from the seed stage through Series A and Series B, signaling an intent to tailor support to startups' stages of growth. Training for investors through four sessions also appears aimed at developing greater specialization in blue economy investment. For the industry, the EU is building a framework to attract investment by linking the blue economy with decarbonization and environmental regulation. Ocean-related startups may find it easier to raise funds, but because support is limited to “sustainable” solutions, demonstrating environmental impact will be important. Open questions include progress toward the €1 billion investment-mobilization target, the actual number of companies selected for each program and investor participation. Public information on the project pipeline will also need to be checked to determine which companies BlueInvest has supported.

BlueInvest is funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and supported by the European Investment Fund (EIF). Its programs include: (1) BlueInvest readiness assistance, coaching for high-potential startups; (2) BlueInvest fundraising assistance, which provides up to 20 days of one-on-one advice to 20 startups; (3) BlueInvest investor capacity building, comprising four training sessions for investors; (4) BlueInvest project pipeline, which showcases investment opportunities; and (5) events and a knowledge center.