VENTUREWELL PROPOSES SUPPORTING TWO ANNUAL NATIONAL COHORTS OF OUR ASCEND PROGRAM, A 10-WEEK HYBRID INVESTMENT READINESS TRAINING THAT SUPPORTS PRE-SEED STARTUPS TO MOVE QUICKLY AND DELIBERATELY AS THEY LAUNCH, ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND PREPARE TO RAISE CAPITAL. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE SPECIFICALLY DELIVERED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MARINE ENERGY & HYDROPOWER STARTUPS. FOLLOWING THE ASCEND TRAINING PROGRAM, VENTUREWELL WILL PROVIDE FOLLOW-ON COACHING AND ACCESS TO NON-DILUTIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY VALIDATION, MARKET DISCOVERY, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH RESOURCE PARTNERS VETTED BY VENTUREWELL. RESOURCE PARTNERS WILL INCLUDE TESTING FACILITIES, SECTOR-SPECIFIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS, AND A ROSTER OF MARINE ENERGY AND WATER POWER TECHNICAL EXPERTS. IN ORDER TO DO THIS WELL, IN BUDGET PERIOD 1 VENTUREWELL WILL CONDUCT A GAP ASSESSMENT AND ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM DESIGN MEETS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF WATER POWER STARTUPS AND ECOSYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS, WHILE CONTINUING TO GROW AND DESIGN A NETWORK THAT IS FIT FOR THAT PURPOSE.