Open Waters Solar

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Open Waters Solar

⚡️The Lightest, Strongest and Most Durable Solar Made for Mobility⚡️
🔵 Ultra Durable
🔵 24% Efficient
🔵 3.4kg/m2
🔵 Flexible
🔵 1.3mm Thin
🇨🇦

11/05/2026

Web Summit week is here, and we’re kicking things off as a Top 10 finalist in Frontier Collective’s Vancity Innovation House pitch competition.
This Tuesday May 11th 2026.

A $20K prize is on the line, coming just after our recent win at the esteemed Beaver’s Den competition.

While the prize is exciting, the biggest value is the visibility, connections, and recognition these events bring within the innovation ecosystem. We’re incredibly grateful for the support from our community and excited to compete alongside some outstanding companies this week.

CRO Niki Kearl will be pitching again.
CCO Tony Olynyk in attendance.
This Tuesday we will also be attending the Evening VIP reception & ClimateGlobal2026

Happy

30/04/2026

Open Waters Solar is proud to be the winner of Beaver’s Den 🎉 🦫
Hosted by FundedinVancouver.

87 companies applied.
25 advanced to pitch.
11 moved into due diligence.
5 reached the final stage.

1 winner. $100,000.

We’re honoured to come out on top.

We went into this process stronger than last year, with a more developed data room, clearer commercialization, and real market traction. That showed.

Huge credit to the team:

Niki Kearl delivered an outstanding final pitch to bring it home
Tony Olynyk and Roger Middleton were there in person
Simon Angus joined live from Prince George while continuing to automate production

Thank you to our advisors, team, and everyone who’s supported us.

And thank you to Funded in Vancouver, Chang, Tiffany, and the sponsors who made this possible: Spring, New Ventures BC, Front Row Ventures, LegalNow, OyenWiggs, MLT Aikins, and Convergence.

Congratulations to the other finalists:
Phyco Technologies, Bryosphere Technologies, Goverly Tech, and ImageCyte Technologies — strong companies and tough competition.

This was our second time reaching this stage (previously under Startup TNT). We came back better, and it paid off.

Looking forward to sharing what’s next.

09/04/2026

The UBC Sailbot team continues to raise the bar with a fully integrated solar wing sail, a striking example of what’s possible when advanced engineering meets real-world application.

It’s a beautiful vessel, but more importantly, it showcases the kind of high-performance technology being developed right here in British Columbia. The fact that this is being driven by university students makes it even more impressive.

It’s no surprise Canada is emerging as a serious player in the USV space.

We know the UBC Sailbot team has exciting updates on the horizon, and we’re looking forward to seeing this vessel back on the water, capturing both wind and sun.
UBC SailBot

University of British Columbia

31/03/2026

Looking back on , and what an incredible event it was.

We had the chance to connect with so many people from across the global marine industry. If we didn’t get a chance to follow up yet, our apologies, the response coming out of the show has been intense, in the best way.

METSTRADE continues to prove why it’s the most international boating event in the world. That global reach aligns perfectly with our strategy, and Canada’s broader push, to expand exports and build meaningful relationships across markets.

We value the mix of customers, partners, and friends who come together there. It’s one of the rare moments where the entire industry is in the same place.

Already looking forward to .
it’s never too early, send your Amsterdam restaurant recommendations.

12/01/2026

Open Waters Solar started as an all-electric boatbuilder with a problem (originally Open Waters Design & Manufacturing). We needed solar that could support full electrification, but existing panels cracked easily, wasted valuable surface area, and lost output the moment shading appeared. So we asked a simple question: could we solve durability, space utilization, and shading at the same time by rethinking how solar is built into the boat itself?

That question led to composite-encapsulated solar, real-world testing across dozens of vessels, and a product that’s now ready to launch.

09/01/2026

A lot happens behind the scenes to make this work, but what we deliver to boat builders, installers, USV teams, and designers is simple: solar that integrates directly into the vessel, preserves clean aesthetics, and materially improves durability and design freedom.

Ben Taylor Podcast

07/01/2026

Instead of rigid panels, or semi-flex panels that crack, you can put SolaDek.

That’s what we realized: we didn’t make another panel, we made a decking material. Any shape, any size, maximum surface use, integrated non-slip. Solar that finally works with the boat, not on top of it.

05/01/2026

This isn’t solar the way we used to know it.
It’s structural, walkable, yacht-grade—and yes, sexy.

On one of two Archipelago 80s, our composite solar surface will deliver real power while doubling as a helicopter landing area. No bolt-on panels, no visual compromise. Just solar that performs, disappears into the design, and elevates the vessel.

26/11/2025

Proud to be a part of the new APEX cohort by Alacrity Canada.
Open Waters Solar is scaling our solar technology into new global markets, and this program supports that trajectory with trade expertise, in-market insight, and access to the right international networks.

Grateful to be part of a BC-driven initiative strengthening Canadian innovation abroad.

03/11/2025

The biggest show of the year is here.

We’re heading to Metstrade in Amsterdam, November 18 to 20 at the RAI Convention Centre. It’s the world’s largest event for marine innovation, and we’re proud to represent Canadian manufacturing on a global stage.

Open Waters Solar is unveiling exciting new updates to our solar technology.

As we expand production in Canada, we’re starting our European roadmap, building partnerships that strengthen international relationships. This marks the next step in bringing Canadian innovation to the world.

Come meet us at Metstrade in the Canadian Pavilion, stand 12.612.

Please reach out to set up a meeting at Metstrade, and share this post to help us connect with your network of key decision-makers who can advance Canada’s clean technology in Europe with service partners, distributors, manufacturers and more.

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http://www.openwaterssolar.com/

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