Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
This course helps you turn innovative ideas into viable businesses in the maritime sector. You will learn to identify market opportunities, design scalable business models, validate your idea with a minimum viable product and prepare a credible project for investors. It covers the trends reshaping the industry, from automation and digitalization to sustainability, and the regulatory environment that marine technology start-ups must work within.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course?
This short course follows the path of a marine technology venture from the first idea to a professional pitch. You will study entrepreneurship in the blue economy and the main areas of opportunity, from navigation, sensing and energy to environmental monitoring, aquaculture, ports and offshore automation; the maritime start-up ecosystem; methods for detecting opportunities and building value propositions; customer segmentation and early validation; business and revenue models; go-to-market strategy and partnerships; product development, prototyping, field testing and scalability.
What sets this course apart: it is built around the specific conditions of the sea, where products must survive harsh environments, regulated markets and demanding industrial customers; it starts from real problems in ports, fleets, coasts and offshore installations rather than from technology for its own sake; it gives field validation the same weight as the business plan; it covers the alliances with shipyards, operators and integrators that marine start-ups depend on; and it ends with an integrative project in which you build the commercial, operational and financial plan and the pitch for your own venture.
Program highlights
- Blue economy opportunities: navigation, sensing, energy, aquaculture, ports and offshore.
- Emerging trends: IoT, artificial intelligence, underwater robotics and ocean data platforms.
- Value proposition, customer segmentation and early validation with pilots and prototypes.
- Business models for hardware, software as a service, remote monitoring and consultancy.
- Prototyping and field tests on vessels, coasts, ports, fish farms and offshore platforms.
- Integrative project: business plan and professional pitch for a marine technology venture.
Syllabus of the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of marine technology entrepreneurship, the blue ecosystem and innovation opportunities in the maritime sector
- 1.1. The concept of marine technology entrepreneurship and its relationship with the blue economy, applied innovation and the transformation of the maritime sector
- 1.2. Main areas of opportunity in marine technology: navigation, sensing, energy, environmental monitoring, aquaculture, ports and offshore automation
- 1.3. Features of the maritime entrepreneurial ecosystem: players, value chains, potential customers, regulators, technology centers and investors
- 1.4. Identifying real problems and needs in the marine sector that can become scalable technology solutions
- 1.5. Emerging trends in marine technology: IoT, artificial intelligence, underwater robotics, marine energy and ocean data platforms
Opportunity detection, value proposition design and solution validation for the marine market
- 2.1. Methods for identifying business opportunities in ports, fleets, vessels, coasts, offshore and specialized maritime services
- 2.2. Analyzing user problems and formulating technology solutions focused on usefulness, feasibility and differentiation
- 2.3. Building the value proposition for marine technology products and services aimed at public and private customers
- 2.4. Customer segmentation and definition of target markets: maritime operators, ports, the offshore industry, research centers and recreational users
- 2.5. Early validation techniques: interviews, pilot tests, functional prototypes and comparison with real needs in the maritime environment
Business models, commercial strategy and company structuring for marine technology start-ups
- 3.1. Business models applicable to marine technology: hardware sales, software as a service, remote monitoring, technical consultancy and operational subscription
- 3.2. Designing the revenue model and cost structure in ventures linked to maritime assets, services and platforms
- 3.3. Market entry strategies and commercial positioning in regulated, technical and highly specialized maritime sectors
- 3.4. Building strategic alliances with shipyards, operators, ports, technology integrators and industrial partners
- 3.5. Basic company structure: founding team, key roles, technical capabilities and initial organization of the venture
Product development, prototyping, field testing and scalability of marine technology solutions
- 4.1. Conceptual design and initial development of the marine technology product or service with a focus on functionality and the real operating context
- 4.2. Prototyping solutions for vessels, coastal monitoring, marine sensing, automation and digital platforms in the blue sector
- 4.3. Planning pilot tests and field validation: coastal environments, vessels, ports, aquaculture facilities and offshore platforms
- 4.4. Technical assessment of product performance: robustness, reliability, connectivity, usability and adaptation to the marine environment
- 4.5. Design iteration based on operational tests, user feedback and the constraints of the maritime environment
Integrative project: creating and launching a marine technology venture
- 5.1. Defining the problem, the market opportunity and the technological approach of the marine venture to be developed
- 5.2. Designing the value proposition, segmenting customers and carrying out a preliminary validation of the chosen business model
- 5.3. Developing the technical outline of the product or service: features, basic architecture, planned tests and specific maritime application
- 5.4. Drawing up the initial commercial, operational and financial plan of the venture with feasibility and scalability criteria
- 5.5. Building the professional pitch for the project: problem, solution, market, business model, competitive advantages and investment needs
Duration and format of the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
Career opportunities after the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
Questions about the Marine Technology Entrepreneurship Course
Many options: remote sensors for environmental and resource monitoring, IoT and data platforms, underwater robotics, automation for ports and offshore, marine energy or digital services for fleets and marinas.
Basic technical knowledge helps, but it is not essential. The course focuses on turning a real maritime problem into a viable venture, and teams usually combine technical and business profiles.
No. Modules 1 and 2 help you detect opportunities in ports, fleets, coasts and offshore. If you already have an idea, you can use it from the start and develop it in the final project.
Yes, as course content. You learn how to estimate costs and revenue, which types of funding and grants exist for technology ventures and how to present investment needs in a pitch. The course does not itself provide funding.
Because the sea is a harsh environment. Robustness, reliability, connectivity and usability must be proven in real conditions on vessels, coasts, ports or fish farms before a product can scale.
You define a problem and opportunity, design the value proposition and business model, outline the technical solution and tests, draw up the initial commercial, operational and financial plan and build a professional pitch.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7. It comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with the integrative project.
More programs in Innovation and startups
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at marine engineers, oceanographers and marine biologists, STEM students, maritime professionals leading digital transformation, investors interested in the blue economy and entrepreneurs from other industries; a degree in engineering, marine sciences or business, or proven experience in the marine or technology sector, is recommended, and basic technical knowledge such as programming or electronics is an advantage.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a camera, microphone and stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and common videoconferencing and online collaboration tools.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.