2026 Wind-Win Startup Showdown
Step into the Future of Ocean Renewables: An Electrifying Evening with the 2026 Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Innovator Cohort!
The 4th annual Wind-Win Startup Showdown offers a pitch experience like no other, spotlighting cutting-edge technology breakthroughs to transform the future of ocean renewables. This is a special year for us: the program set a record high: 118 applications and the strongest competition reviewers have seen to date. In 2026, we also drew in a more diverse cohort than ever before by broadening this year's technology scope — a 123% increase in application numbers compared to last year's, reflecting the parallel growth in industry demand for novel solutions needed in the market.
Presented by the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, this networking and pitch event brings together stakeholders across the climate landscape—investors, founders, academia, industry, and thought leaders—for an evening of connection, collaboration, and celebration.
Come see it for yourself! Join us to engage with leading innovators tackling climate’s most complex challenges with bold, next-generation solutions.
Refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
Agenda
Doors Open
Keynote + Welcome Remarks
Linda Ng Boyle, Vice Dean for Research, Professor of Civil, Urban, and Environmental Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Also on stage: Tone Søndergaard, Director, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub at NYU Tandon Urban Future Lab
Innovator Lightning Pitches by the 2026 Cohort
Each of our Offshore Wind Innovation Hub partners has sent their most experienced innovation experts to provide feedback for each of the selected cohort companies.
Sam Jung, SVP, Green Economy, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC)
Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Executive Director, National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium (NOWRDC)
Gregory Lampman, Senior Director, Offshore Wind, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Robert Fenton, Head of Americas Generation Procurement, Ørsted
Stephan Kremers, Senior Technical Project Manager, Vestas
Fireside Chat on Dual-Use Technology Adaptation
Max Taffet, SVP, Ports, Waterfront, and Transportation Asset Management, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC)
Pete Schork, Co-Founder and General Partner, Lorimer Ventures
Networking & Refreshments
Meet our 2026 Cohort
Bubble Robotics (California, US) - Resident fleet of autonomous underwater robots monitoring offshore infrastructure.
Hefring Marine (Iceland) - Intelligence platform combining onboard hardware with software to optimize marine operations.
Sail GTX (New York, US) - Platform for smarter customs workflows for offshore wind components.
TMA The Hazardous Goods Companion (Germany) - RFID and AIoT inventory visibility and predictive inventory management solution.
Vital Ocean® (Oregon, US) - Intelligence platform combining ocean data, marine environment, and decision interface.
Stay tuned in on our website and LinkedIn for updates on our selected cohort!
Innovation in Focus
Our 2026 cohort takes the stage to pitch ocean and maritime’s most promising technologies. This year's lineup features innovations spanning ports, O&M, environmental monitoring & coexistence, workforce development, installation, construction, and commissioning, maritime applications, among others. The scope doesn't just stop there. The majority of this year's solutions are dual-use, carrying relevance across adjacent industries and global markets, a reflection of just how far the blue economy reaches.
Marking the official launch of the 2026 Innovator program, this event offers a unique chance to connect directly with the founders behind these ready-to-scale solutions. Explore their real-world impact, uncover new business opportunities, and spark the kind of strategic partnerships that move ideas forward.
The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Innovator Program
A world-class program open to global offshore wind innovators. Building on three successful cohorts, this eight-month intensive program provides unparalleled support for innovators looking to develop novel technology and advance commercialization in New York and beyond.
The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub is an initiative led by Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC) in collaboration with the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC).
The Innovator program is also supported by industry partners Equinor, Ørsted, and Vestas.