Stories and Profiles from the Impact Economy

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Blue Action Accelerator is an ocean and climate accelerator for pre-seed and seed startups in the blue economy. Each company receives $150,000 and a four-month program covering product, operations, commercialization, data science, partnerships, and fundraising. Founders get access to testing grounds in Freeport, Grand Bahama, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and shared research facilities in the free-trade zone. The program also connects companies with public and commercial partners, including the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the governments of Barbados and Jamaica, and ports in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Miami-Dade County. Focus areas include coastal carbon capture, marine ecosystem restoration, island infrastructure, ocean energy, aquaculture, clean maritime transport, and software that supports those industries. Blue Action Accelerator is a collaboration between Blue Action, a Bahamas-based ocean innovation hub, and Founders Factory, with additional ties to Austin, New York, and London.

The OpenAI Foundation is the nonprofit working to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. It funds both sides of that mission: using AI to help solve hard problems, and preparing for the challenges more capable AI creates. In a March 2026 note, the Foundation said it expects to invest at least $1 billion over the following year across life sciences and curing diseases, jobs and economic impact, AI resilience, and community programs. That plan includes early spending toward a previously announced $25 billion commitment to curing diseases and AI resilience. Life sciences work starts with AI for Alzheimer’s, public health data, and high-mortality diseases. AI resilience covers children and youth, biosecurity, and model safety. The 2026 People-First AI Fund is deploying $50 million in unrestricted grants to 163 U.S. nonprofits working on community services, arts and culture, and local journalism. A first $50 million fund launched in 2025.

Lilly Capital is a privately owned early-stage impact investment firm headquartered in Feusisberg, Switzerland. It backs entrepreneurs at the very early stage and stays involved as an active shareholder and business mentor, helping companies with strategic and operational decisions. The firm says its mission is to make tomorrow’s world a better place by investing in innovative startups and building a bridge between profit and impact. Public materials point to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular attention to zero hunger, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and decent work and economic growth. Lilly Capital invests worldwide and describes a long-term horizon rather than a short holding period. Lilly Capital AG was founded in 2022. The team draws on investment professionals with experience across industries to mentor founders toward a stronger market position.