Oceans 2026
Overview
Oceans 2026 will use ocean sports culture as the front door to ocean-tech and blue economy innovation. Set in Perth, Western Australia, it will convene founders, investors, operators, and Proximity Stakeholders alongside elite ocean athletes, bridging culture, capital, and real-world deployment. Ocean sports act as a layer of neutrality, bringing every kind of stakeholder together around one shared goal: to protect and explore our oceans.
Oceans is founded by Progression, Bill Tai’s ACTAI Global, and West Tech Fest. ACTAI brings a global community of athletes, investors, and technologists, and West Tech Fest roots the event in Western Australia’s innovation ecosystem, with Perth as the home base. Sport partners including the World Surf League and Kiteboarding Australia, open the water to everyone: attendees will not just watch, they will surf, ride, and dive alongside elite athletes.
What to Expect?
Exclusive Investment Opportunities
Vetted founders present ocean-tech and blue economy solutions to an audience of investors and Proximity Stakeholders positioned to act on them.
Get in the Water with Pros
Surf, ride, sail, and dive alongside elite athletes from the World Surf League, Kiteboarding Australia, and more.
The Progression Room
Founders, investors, operators, athletes, and academics in one room, aligned around a single goal: to protect and explore our oceans. Curated and thoughtful programming send you home inspired and with new, deep connections to this ecosystem.
A Day on Rottnest Island
Programming leaves the conference room for the real world, with attendees exploring the island paradise off the coast of Perth.
Why Join Progression?
Progression is for people tired of politics and echo chambers. We drive impact rooted in innovation, inspiration, and inclusion rather than alarmism and finger-pointing.
By building the community and each event around sport and a shared connection to the natural world, Progression creates a neutral, nonpolitical environment where people with different perspectives can connect around practical solutions.