Empowering Communities to Protect Their Ocean
BLUE PROSPERITY ENTREPRENEUR FELLOWSHIP
BLUE PROSPERITY
ENTREPRENEUR FELLOWSHIP
Entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses in Tonga are invited to apply to the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship.
Applications will be open from October 1 - November 2, 2024.
The Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship (BPEF) aims to support local ocean-oriented entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses through grants, entrepreneurship training and mentorship opportunities.
The Fellowship is a valuable opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses in Tonga to gain access to an extensive international network of business leaders. This program aims to strengthen Tonga’s Blue Economy to advance ocean and community health.
The Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship is a partnership between the Tonga Ministry of Fisheries, the Waitt Institute, the Vava’u Environmental Protection Association, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) to support Blue Economy entrepreneurs in Tonga.
Please read through all the information on this page before submitting your application.
What will Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellows receive?
Grants of up to $8,000 to support activities that benefit the Blue Economy in Tonga
At least 4 virtual training workshops taking place between Jan. 2025 - Dec. 2025
Mentorship opportunities facilitated by SOA’s global network, including leaders in business, technology, finance, and more
FELLOWSHIP
ELIGIBILITY
What are the fellowship's eligibility requirements?
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Recipients must reside in and/or work in Tonga.
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Applicant’s projects must demonstrate a positive impact to the Blue Economy (sustainable use of marine resources) in Tonga.
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Organizations and individuals are eligible to apply, as well as established programs and new ideas.
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Initiatives are not required to generate profit or be affiliated with an organization in order to apply.
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The Fellowship seeks new projects that can show measurable results before December 2025, along with plans for how to sustain impact.
What is the time commitment for selected fellows?
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Attendance at a minimum of four virtual workshops over the course of the fellowship term from January 2025 to December 2025.
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Qualified applicants will be invited to an interview via Zoom in November 2024.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship (BPEF)?
The Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship is a partnership between the Tonga Ministry of Fisheries, the Waitt Institute, the Vava’u Environmental Protection Association, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) to support Blue Economy entrepreneurs in Tonga. The fellowship entails a grant of up to $8,000 as well as training workshops and 1:1 mentorship opportunities from January 2025 to December 2025.
Who is eligible to apply for the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship (BPEF)?
The primary requirement is that grant-supported activities must benefit the blue economy (sustainable utilization of marine resources) in Tonga. The ideal participant is someone with a new or early-stage project and can show measurable results before December 2025, and with plans for how to sustain impact beyond the term of the fellowship. Initiatives are not required to generate profit or be affiliated with an organization in order to apply.
What is the application process?
Applications will be open from October 1, 2024 to November 2, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by a panel with representation from all partners. Qualified applicants will be invited to schedule a brief Zoom meeting. All fellows will be selected and notified by December 11.
What if I don’t have reliable internet access?
Applicants in Vava’u can find internet support at the VEPA office and we are working to find locations in Ha’apai and Tongatapu. This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available.
How will the participants be selected?
Applications will be evaluated by program partners and scored on the strength of their leadership (experience/potential), project components (location/outputs), impact, sustainability/scalability, and finances (budget, traction/other sources of funding).
What is the time commitment?
Fellows are expected to participate (either live or through recordings) in a minimum of four training workshops over the course of the fellowship from January 2025 to December 2025. Workshop dates will be shared with applicants well in advance. Workshops are 1-2 hours each, and also include up to an hour of preparatory work. Fellows may also choose to participate in mentorship via email or 1:1 meetings.
What types of training will be provided?
The subject of the training workshops will be determined based on the attributes of the selected fellows. SOA established one of the world’s first ocean-focused accelerators for startups in 2018, and has since nurtured a network of experts and a content library meant to educate entrepreneurs and grassroots leaders on the essentials of creating and scaling sustainable ocean initiatives. Examples of past expert-led workshops include Value Propositions & Go to Market Strategy, Fundraising, Measuring Impact, Early Stage Company Formation, and others.
What types of mentorship opportunities will be provided?
Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellows will have access to SOA’s network of mentors, including leaders in business, technology, finance, and more. A community of over 200 professionals (“SOA Mentors”) volunteer their time to provide 1:1 support to SOA grant recipients on an as-needed basis. Fellows will be introduced to the participating mentors at the beginning of the fellowship, and can request their support at any time through August 2025.
See the SOA Grants page for additional FAQs.
Additional questions?
Please contact grants@soalliance.org if you have additional questions.