The Blue World Perspective 2021

Sector specific trends and
evolution over time
After the reduction in the number of ocean-tech startups that we saw in 2020, 2021 showed a significant
recovery and became the year with the most startups with interesting developments in each of the ocean
sectors.
Harvesting has grown significantly over the last few years to become the sector with most startups in 2021.
Transportation recovered from previous year’s contraction trend.
There was a substantial contraction in Ocean Health, both in relative and absolute terms. Having gone from
the most important sector in contribution and absolute startup numbers in 2020 to the second least in 2021.
Frontier Technologies has shaken its contracting trend, and after a significant growth in ocean-tech
startups it has become almost as relevant as Transportation.
Energy has remained as the least important sector in terms of number of startups and contribution to the
sectors mix, yet it has maintained a stable contribution with no tangible growth.
Number of startups
Startup numbers over time
2018 2019 2020 2021
100 %
90 %
80 %
70 %
60 %
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
10 %
0 %
Startup numbers by sector, relative
2018 2019 2020 2021
Energy Harvesting Transportation
Frontier Tech Ocean Health Other
Number of startups
Startups numbers by sector, absolute
2018 2019 2020 2021
Energy Harvesting Transportation
Frontier Tech Ocean Health Other
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