Post #61: Narwhale Ventures' NOA2025 Accelerator: Scaling Ocean Innovation in Southeast Asia

A couple of years ago now, I had the chance to intern with Narwhale Ventures — a mission-driven team working at the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ocean innovation. I promised them I’d spotlight their upcoming programme, and with applications now open, it felt like the perfect time.

This week’s post is a short overview of NOA2025, Narwhale’s newly launched 8-week hybrid accelerator for blue economy startups expanding into Southeast Asia, with a dual focus on the Philippines and Indonesia. The programme offers market access, investment readiness, and regional support — and it’s completely non-dilutive and free to join.

If you’re building something in ocean innovation and looking East, this could be one to watch.

Start Date: May 13, 2025

Deadline to Apply: May 05, 2025

Contact: celine.schulze@narwhale.ventures or drop me a message if you’d like to learn more

More below on who Narwhale Ventures are, why Southeast Asia is such a critical market, and what the accelerator offers.

Who Is Narwhale Ventures?

Named after the Arctic whale often called the “unicorn of the sea,” Narwhale Ventures was launched as a global initiative to support sustainability-driven startups across the blue economy — from aquaculture and ocean data to circular economy and clean maritime solutions.

The venture studio is co-led by Celine Schulze and Andreas Schulze, and is based in Singapore, with a growing global network of advisors, researchers, and marine sector experts.

• Celine Schulze, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, brings over 15 years of experience in the financial investment world, including time with a Shanghai-based VC and business angel networks in Geneva and Beijing. She holds master’s degrees in both Finance and Business Psychology, and is passionate about the intersection of human behaviour, capital, and systems change.

  
  

• Andreas Schulze, also Co-Founder & Managing Partner, has more than 19 years of experience in portfolio management, with a focus on financing SMEs across Europe. He began his career at Allianz Global Investors before joining Swiss alternative asset manager Patrimonium, where he helped manage over €1.2 billion in funding across 200+ companies. He holds a diploma in International Business and a master’s degree in Economics.

Narwhale is managed by 10power9, a privately-owned investment firm with offices in Asia and the EU. The name reflects the scale of their ambition — to positively impact one billion lives (10⁹) by funding ventures that drive systemic change in climate and ocean health.

From what I’ve seen, Narwhale doesn’t just invest — they build capacity. Their approach is grounded, research-led, and deeply mission-aligned with the needs of ocean ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

More on their flagship accelerator — and why Southeast Asia is such a crucial focus — next.

Inside NOA2025: The Narwhale Ocean Accelerator

Launching on May 13, 2025, NOA2025 is an 8-week hybrid accelerator designed to support blue economy startups looking to enter or expand into the Philippines. It’s fully non-dilutive (no equity taken), and offers founders a grounded, locally-informed pathway into one of the world’s most ocean-critical regions.

What makes this programme stand out is its emphasis on real market access — built in collaboration with regional partners including DITRA Learning, De La Salle University, and the University of Batangas. Together, they provide a blend of academic rigour, ecosystem knowledge, Mentorship, and community reach that’s rare in most accelerators.

So, who’s it for?

Narwhale is looking for startups that are:

• Working on scalable solutions in the blue economy — whether that’s sustainable aquaculture, marine renewables, waste innovation, maritime logistics, or eco-tourism

• Mission-aligned, with environmental or social impact embedded in their business model

• Already legally incorporated, and ready to engage seriously with the Southeast Asian market

• Either Philippines-based and looking to scale, or foreign startups planning to enter the country

• Committed to participating fully in the programme — from virtual workshops to optional in-person events

• Focus areas include: blue carbon, offshore renewables, plastic alternatives, maritime logistics, marine-derived materials, and more.

  
  

And what’s in it for founders?

Expect hands-on workshops covering everything from market entry and team building to branding, legal structuring, and hiring — all tailored to the Philippine context.

Support across:

• 📈 Market intelligence on sector trends, demand, and players in Southeast Asia

• 🗺 Ecosystem mapping: VCs, family offices, corporates, grant providers, incubators

• 📚 Business foundations: Legal/IP landscape, hiring, operations, local recruitment

• 📢 Workshops on sales, branding, marketing, and team management

• 🎯 Impact strategy: Learn how to define, measure, and communicate ocean impact

• 💸 Investment readiness: Understand capital types, build your data room, get investor insight

• 👥 Networking & access: In-person events, curated local meetings, and strategic partner intros

• 📜 Certification from Narwhale Ventures upon completion

It’s free to join, and there’s cash prize funding available for top teams at the final pitch event.

The Weekly Curriculum at a Glance

Every Tuesday afternoon (Philippine time), experts from across Asia and Europe will deliver live sessions (also available on demand):

• May 13 – Programme launch + networking at De La Salle University, Dasmariñas (or join online)

• May 20 – State of the blue economy in the Philippines

• May 27 – The investment & innovation landscape

• June 3 – Marketing, branding, recruitment, legal/IP

• June 10 – Impact measurement frameworks & goals

• June 17 – Pitch refinement for local/global audiences

• June 24 – Investment readiness deep dive

• July 1 – Final showcase, company visits, and closing (in-person + streamed)

  
  

All sessions are optional, and you’ll have access to full recordings post-programme.

How to Apply — And Why It’s Worth Considering

If you're building something meaningful in the blue economy and Southeast Asia is on your radar — this is the kind of programme that’s built to make your entry smoother, smarter, and more connected.

🗓️ Start Date: May 13, 2025

📅 Application Deadline: May 05, 2025

📝 Apply here: Google Form

Whether you're a Philippine-based startup looking to scale or an international team exploring expansion into the region, NOA2025 offers access to a wide-reaching support network that’s still rare in this part of the world — with no equity, no fees, and a very real chance to connect with funders, partners, and policymakers.

If you’re interested, feel free to reach out to me directly — or get in touch with Celine Schulze, Co-Founder of Narwhale Ventures, at celine.schulze@narwhale.ventures.

Would love to hear if you decide to apply — and I’ll definitely be following this cohort’s journey. 🌊

P.S. (they are also hiring a part time Junior Analyst).

Warm wishes,

H