Pilot initiative supported three entrepreneurs in Bermuda’s Blue Economy to join the award-winning programme. 

The Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme (BOPP) and Ignite Bermuda recently completed a pilot initiative to support Bermuda’s future Blue Economy entrepreneurial leaders and the sustainable growth of the island’s ocean economy.

Three Bermudian entrepreneurs received five months of support, mentorship and programming from Ignite Bermuda: Dr. Thaddeus Murdoch, Meredith Andrews, and Sam Bennett, all of whom are building sustainable ocean businesses.

“BOPP is proud to have supported Ignite’s 2024 cohort - and I am pleased to say that BOPP will support three more Blue Entrepreneurs in Ignite’s 2025 cohort as well,” said Cheryl-Ann Mapp, BOPP’s Blue Economy Specialist. “Supporting Blue Entrepreneurs is an essential part of implementing the Blue Economy Strategy, which builds on effective management and conservation of Bermuda’s unique resources. It has been wonderful to watch these entrepreneurs’ growth under the fantastic Ignite programme as they work on businesses related to something that touches each one of us in Bermuda: our precious ocean.” 

Ignite Bermuda is an accelerated entrepreneurial development programme created to support local innovators in growing and scaling up their businesses and organisations. Since 2019, the centrepiece of Ignite’s activities–which has produced over 300 graduates–is the Ignite Accelerator Programme. This five-month programme encourages all local entrepreneurs and community leaders to apply and offers free, tangible opportunities for career and business development. Additionally, feedback from the current cohort suggested that 100% would recommend the programme to others. 

Blue entrepreneurs include those individuals seeking to start or grow businesses that:

• Tackle challenges facing the ocean, including those resulting from climate change.

• Promote the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs.

• Support ocean health and protection.

Hon. Minister Walter Roban, Deputy Premier of Bermuda and Minister of Home Affairs, said, “This program is an early indication of how Bermuda’s Blue Prosperity Plan will contribute to the sustainable growth of the island’s ocean economy. I am proud of the work of these three Blue Entrepreneurs, who are making Bermuda’s waters a better place with their businesses, as well as strengthening our Blue Economy. I commend Ignite Bermuda and the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme for their support of Bermuda’s innovators.”

Bermuda is committed to protecting its natural beauty, both above and below the water, ensuring a sustainable ocean for future generations. The Blue Prosperity Plan is a framework for this vision, including a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) that would designate 20% of Bermudas waters as fully protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and a Blue Economy Strategy that leverages this effective management for the sustainable development of blue industries. 

Bermuda’s Blue Economy Strategy aims to facilitate sustainable fisheries, expand sustainable marine tourism, accelerate the clean energy transition, and increase blue investment and blue technologies on the island. It also includes plans to create the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Fund (Ocean Fund) that will provide sustainable financing for the growth of Blue Economy industries and the implementation of the MSP.

BOPP will support three more Blue Entrepreneurs in Ignite’s upcoming ninth cohort. More information about Ignite can be found at www.ignitebermuda.com.

About Bermuda’s 2024 Blue Economy Entrepreneur Cohort

Dr. Thaddeus Murdoch, an environmental consultant, who previously ran the marine research programme BREAM, focused on creating a publication providing in depth background information on contemporary environmental issues in Bermuda. Bermuda Sea Life is still in development, and would begin as an online publication with scope to release print editions in the future. Thad believes that it is important for the public to have access to a neutral source of knowledge so they can be empowered to become part of the decision-making process. 

The Ignite Programme was helpful in connecting Thad with professionals working in the magazine industry locally. “The programme was great for meeting other entrepreneurs, and helping build a team of supporters.. Getting a head start in Bermuda is challenging, so having people in the same boat is great,” he said.

Meredith Andrews is an artist and photographer passionate about fighting ocean plastic. Meredith regularly cleans up beaches in Bermuda, using some of the plastic she collects to create artwork. Meredith saw an opportunity to ‘side-cycle’ this plastic into objects useful for Bermudians, including plant pots - or later, park benches, stools, and trash cans. 

Currently running her own photography business of 20 years, Meredith was also interested in creating a business focused specifically on side-cycling plastic, called Plastic Mermade. “The biggest challenge was figuring out what scale to go for - to choose one simple product and get the machines on island to make it, or to go for something larger, with government support, with all stakeholders involved.” Ultimately, Meredith pivoted in the programme to focus on developing an online storefront for her existing business, which could provide initial funding for Plastic Mermade. “The staff at Ignite and my cohort were so positive and supportive,” Meredith said, “and the fact that I had BOPP and Ignite’s support was amazing - Plastic Mermade went from an item on a to do list, to something I’m actively exploring.”

“I don’t see plastic as a siloed issue - dealing with plastic is a necessity because we’re an island nation. We're often trying to live and operate like we’re somewhere else. It’s startling to me when I embrace the reality of what we’re living; being on a small island in the face of  climate change, focusing on the Blue Economy just makes sense.”

Sam Bennett is an internationally accredited Scuba Diving Instructor Trainer with over 18 years of experience underwater and in the dive industry. He has been running EcoDive for more than a year, providing environmental education and practice through diving and snorkelling. 

The programme helped Sam develop new citizen science initiatives at EcoDive. “We partnered with the Reef Foundation to offer reef surveying to snorkelers and divers, assisting scientists with data collection on Bermuda reefs using the roaming survey method.” Several other monitoring and citizen science projects are planned. Initiatives like these allow the community to give back to Bermuda’s waters while enjoying the thriving ecosystem they support.

Sam took home the ‘Beacon’ award from Ignite at the end of the programme for his dedication to community engagement. An active participant at Ignite sessions, Sam also supported a science communications intern at EcoDive as part of Ignite’s internship programme.