Leading the Blue Economy: Launch of Her Ocean Accelerator’s First Cohort
The first cohort of the Her Ocean Acceleration Program began with eight women-led initiatives from Belize, Mexico, and Honduras.
The future of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) is closely tied to the communities that depend on it, including the women working to protect it. The first cohort of the Her Ocean Acceleration Program began with eight women-led initiatives from Belize, Mexico, and Honduras. The kickoff event was held in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, from July 27 to 30, 202 host. Selected from 111 applications, the eight entrepreneurs presented climate solutions designed to address key challenges across the MAR region.
The four-day kickoff provided a space for the founders to present their impact models, address business blind spots, participate in roundtable discussions on resilience and environmental challenges in the MAR, and receive training in climate finance management. The gathering also helped establish a regional network of collaboration among women entrepreneurs committed to conservation.
These initiatives reflect the role of women in building a resilient blue economy. Their business models seek to contribute to marine ecosystem conservation and climate adaptation through approaches such as:
- Circular Sargassum Utilization: Transforming sargassum into compostable bioplastics, organic agricultural inputs, and blue carbon credits.
- Invasive Species Management: Handcrafting sustainable jewelry from invasive lionfish.
- Marine Conservation & Active Restoration: Developing underwater structures for coral restoration, leading scientific and shark protection expeditions, and integrating ecotourism with community diving.
- Sustainable Packaging & Natural Care: Creating biodegradable packaging from seaweed and marine biomass, alongside locally sourced botanical cosmetics.
View interviews with the participants here.
