When launching a marine startup, few places can compete with the UK, writes Gabbi Richardson, founder of Yachting Ventures.
From generous investor tax breaks to targeted government funding, the UK is carving out a reputation as one of the best destinations for founders to turn ideas into reality.
There is a growing network of innovation hubs, accelerators and industry clusters. The picture is compelling, especially on the country’s south coast, where Southampton is emerging as a hub for startups in the marine sector, like CrewPass (which helps crew to stay compliant and get hired) and Other Skies (which creates 3D catalogues and other products). Yachting Ventures recently announced it is working with British Marine to provide a startup zone at this year’s SIBS.
UK’s investor-friendly tax landscape
One of the UK’s greatest strengths is its investor-friendly tax landscape.
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) gives angel investors 50 per cent income tax relief on investments of up to £200,000 in early-stage companies. This incentive makes it easier for founders to secure those crucial first cheques. Once a business begins to scale, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) offer further incentives, drawing in more capital to help companies grow and scale up.
On top of this, the UK’s R&D tax relief scheme supports companies that are developing new products and technologies. While recent reforms have streamlined the rules, the message is clear: the government wants to reward businesses that innovate.
Government grants offering equity-free investment
Grants and non-dilutive funding play an equally important role in the UK startup scene. Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency, continues to fund sector-specific programmes and for marine businesses in particular, there are significant pots of funding available right now.
These include:
- £30 million through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6, backing zero-emission vessels, alternative fuels and greener port infrastructure.
- £8 million via the Smart Shipping Acceleration fund, targeting AI-driven innovations in navigation, autonomy and vessel optimisation.
- £2.3 million in Innovate UK grants ringfenced for marine startups in the South West, supporting pilots and early-stage commercialisation.
These funds are a clear signal that the UK sees maritime innovation as central to its economic and environmental future.
UK’s south coast plays crucial role in startup economy
The south coast of England has become a natural home for marine startups. With its ports, universities and specialist research centres, the region offers a unique ecosystem for anyone building in the leisure marine space.
The Solent Freeport, covering Southampton and Portsmouth, is opening new innovation-ready sites and offering tax advantages designed to attract maritime manufacturers and clean-tech pioneers. The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton has launched its own innovation hub, giving startups access to world-leading scientists, labs and test facilities. Meanwhile, Southampton Science Park runs the Catalyst programme, a fully funded accelerator that helps founders refine their business models and connect with investors.
Venturefest South, the region’s flagship showcase of innovation, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, academics and industry leaders for a packed day of pitching, networking and deal-making every year. For marine startups in particular, it’s a rare opportunity to get in front of the right audience in one place.
Equally important is Maritime UK Solent, the regional cluster organisation that champions the area’s maritime strengths. Working closely with local authorities, universities and businesses helps direct investment into the sector, promotes collaboration across the supply chain and ensures that the Solent’s voice is heard at a national level. For startups, this kind of coordinated ecosystem makes it easier to plug in, find partners and scale up.
Innovation Zone at Southampton International Boat Show
Southampton – a city that has long been synonymous with shipping – is now earning a reputation as a hub for innovation. Home to one of the UK’s top universities, a thriving port and an increasingly active startup scene, it’s a place where tradition meets the future.
With this in mind, the Southampton International Boat Show is launching a brand-new Innovation Zone, powered by Yachting Ventures, which will give 12 marine startups the chance to showcase their products to an expected audience of over 100,000.
Running from 24–28 September as a pop-up, the Innovation Zone will put sustainability, safety and digital technologies centre stage, offering founders exposure to customers, investors and industry leaders, with applications for exhibitor space available online.
A startup which has benefited from its location is CrewPass (which helps to verify documents and prevent issues before they arise).
“Starting a business always comes with its challenges, but as a maritime software start-up, we were fortunate to have a unique advantage in our location,” says founder Conrad Empson (pictured below).
“With much of our network and connections rooted in Southampton, a hub for the maritime industry, we were able to grow quickly.
“Many key industry events are held in the area, and through these we built a strong support network around CrewPass. Today, we’re proud to support hundreds of yachts, providing more rigorous and reliable crew vetting through our system as the trusted foundation for crew verification.”
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