Local marina operator boatfolk among partners for newly launched sustainable AI accelerator

Sustainability consulting firm Bright Tide has launched a new accelerator programme for AI-powered businesses working to address global environmental challenges.

Among the programme’s partners is Southampton-headquartered boatfolk, which runs East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight, Deacons Marina on the River Hamble and Haslar Marina at Portsmouth Harbour, among eight others across the country.

Bright Tide’s Sustain.AI accelerator will support 10 emerging ventures from around the world who are leveraging artificial intelligence to address various environmental challenges.

They include Loamin, a geospatial AI solution to support environmentally and economically sustainable land use, as well as Wilder Sensing, which provides AI-backed biodiversity monitoring and reporting and has previously featured on BBC’s Springwatch.

A launch event for the programme was held at the London offices of law firm Hogan Lovells, with Baroness Manzila Uddin and Lord Kulveer Ranger among the speakers alongside global sustainability leaders John Elkington and Ralph Chami.

Dominic Zammit, group commercial director at boatfolk, said: “I’m incredibly proud to be a partner and to once again work with Harry Wright, Sangeeta Laudus and the Bright Tide team to work towards a more sustainable future.

“As custodians of the coastline, we at boatfolk feel our responsibility to protect, respect and enhance ocean health as crucial to our mission.

“I cannot wait to see how we can support these 10 pioneers in environmental conservation in bringing their solutions to the world.

“Exciting times ahead!”

Also on the Sustain.AI accelerator are ecodetect, Atmo, Applied Genomics, Satellites on Fire, Gamaya, Synature, Tese and Seabex.

• boatfolk.co.uk