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2nd Annual Marine Robotics Entrepreneurship Forum

July 14-15, 2016
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Click on links below to view presentation slides.

July 14, 2016
Innovators Showcase and Networking Social
LOSOS High Bay

4:00pm – 7:00pm Opening Remarks
DASN Frank Kelley (Ret. USMC BGen)
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Unmanned Systems

July 15, 2016
Presentations, Discussions, and Networking Opportunities

Clark Laboratory 507

8:00am – 8:30am Breakfast (provided)
8:30am – 8:45am Welcome and Technology Inflections
Jim Bellingham, WHOI Consortium for Marine Robotics
8:45am – 9:30am Shipwrecks and Robots
Dana Yoerger, WHOI
9:30am – 10:00am Networking Break
10:00am – 11:00am Panel: Emerging Markets and Market Trends: The view from Industry
Panelists
• Hauke Kite-Powell, WHOI: Macro-economic perspective
• Jay Borkland, Apex Companies: Energy perspective
• Scott Lindell, WHOI: Aquaculture perspective
• John Trowbridge, WHOI: Trends in ocean observing systems
• Zdenka Willis, NOAA: U.S. IOOS Ocean Enterprise Industry StudyPanel Questions:
• What are the existing and emerging markets for marine robotics and their applications and uses?
• What is inhibiting or supporting acceptance of a marine robotics market?
• What steps can and should be taken to accelerate marine robotics technology development and market creation?
11:00am – 12:00pm Participating Company Flash Talks
Leslie-Ann McGee, WHOI CMR, Facilitator
Blue Robotics
Sea Machines
Fourstar
Open Water Power
Igloo Innovation
SeaLite Engineering
iXblue
The Blue Institute of Cape Cod
JP Analytics
Juice Robotics
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Riptide
Department of Energy ARPA-E
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch (provided)
1:00pm – 1:45pm Keynote
VADM Michael Connor (Ret.)
Founding CEO of Thayer Mahan and former commander of U.S. Submarine Forces
Challenges and opportunities in the emerging marine defense robotics market
1:45pm - 2:45pm Panel: Low-cost Vehicles
Panelists
• Jeff Smith, Riptide Autonomous Systems
• Ethan Butler, Bluefin Robotics
• Bob Anderson, Ocean Server
• Tom Altshuler, Teledyne Marine SystemsPanel Questions:
• What do you think are the market opportunities for small marine robotic vehicles?
• What is holding back the development of small vehicles?
• What sensors or subsystems do you wish you had to support small vehicle innovations?
• How do you see capabilities of small vehicles evolving in the next 1-5 years?
2:45pm - 3:15pm Networking Break
3:15pm - 4:30pm Panel: Financing Technology Start-Ups and Small Company Resources Panel
Panelists
• Steve An, Serial Entrepreneur
• Peter Karlson, Ne-uon; Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
• Ken Morse, Entrepreneurship Ventures, Inc.Panel Questions:
• What is your vision of how small robotics companies can get access to venture capital or other funding?
• When and how is it realistic or timely to go after venture capital?
• What are your suggestions for alternative methods of financing?
• How do you see the prospects of funding changing as marine robotics evolve?
• What specific resources do you suggest small companies utilize or access to support their business plan?
4:30pm - 5:00pm Wrap Up and Next Steps

 

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