Konree Innovation, a client company of ATU iHub, has been awarded the inaugural Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic Oceans Graduate Award, recognising the company’s pioneering work in marine conservation, sustainable ocean stewardship, and ocean-focused innovation.
Isioma Oye-Onwuka (Venture Manager, CDL Atlantic), Margaret Rae (Founder & CEO/CSO Konree Innovation) & Leslie McNabb-Kyritsis (Director & Co-Site lead at CDL Atlantic)
The award includes a $50,000 USD prize and was presented as part of CDL-Atlantic’s Oceans stream, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — a leading hub for ocean industry and innovation.
The newly launched, donor-sponsored Oceans Graduate Award recognises a graduating venture from the Creative Destruction Lab programme that is delivering meaningful impact in the ocean sector. Konree Innovation was selected in recognition of its progress, potential, and commitment to developing solutions that support healthier marine ecosystems.
Konree Innovation successfully completed the full nine-month CDL-Atlantic Oceans programme, which supports high-potential, seed-stage, science and technology-based companies through a rigorous objectives-based process. The programme connects founders with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, and sector experts who provide focused guidance across a series of structured sessions.
Margaret Rae, Founder of Konree Innovation, said:
“We are incredibly proud to receive the inaugural CDL Atlantic Oceans Graduate Award. This recognition is a major milestone for Konree Innovation and reflects the importance of advancing practical, science-led solutions for marine conservation and sustainable ocean stewardship. The support, challenge, and mentorship we received through CDL-Atlantic have been invaluable, and this award will help us continue to scale our impact.”
Konree Innovation’s participation in CDL-Atlantic reflects the growing international recognition of Irish-founded ocean innovation companies and the role of regional innovation ecosystems such as ATU iHub in supporting early-stage ventures with global ambition.
Turlough Rafferty, ATU iHub Innovation Centre Manager, said:
“Konree Innovation’s achievement is a fantastic example of the calibre of companies emerging from the ATU iHub ecosystem. Winning this inaugural award from CDL-Atlantic is a significant international endorsement of Konree’s technology, team, and mission. We are delighted to support companies like Konree that are developing solutions with the potential to make a real environmental and commercial impact.”
In addition to Konree Innovation’s award, Kanyarat Sriwichainchai, an MBA student at the University of New Brunswick, was recognised at the CDL Super Session on May 27 for her contribution to Konree Innovation. Kanyarat received the inaugural CDL Student Entrepreneur Award, which celebrates students who have created exceptional and verifiable value for ventures within the CDL network.
Margaret Rae added:
“We are also delighted to see Kanyarat recognised on the global stage for her outstanding contribution to Konree Innovation. Her work has brought real value to our venture, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her talent, commitment, and entrepreneurial mindset.”
Margaret Rae with Kanyarat Sriwichainchai (MBA Student with CDL Atlantic)
The Creative Destruction Lab is a nonprofit organisation that delivers an objectives-based programme for massively scalable, seed-stage, science and technology-based companies. CDL does not charge fees or take equity in participating ventures, and its global programme includes streams across areas such as Oceans, Climate, AI, Health, Advanced Therapies, AgriFood, Quantum, Space, Manufacturing, Energy, Minerals, Risk, and more. CDL currently operates across 17 locations globally.
Konree Innovation was invited to participate in the CDL-Atlantic Oceans stream, which is designed to support ventures addressing major opportunities and challenges in the ocean sector. Over the course of the programme, ventures work through a series of intensive sprints, with continued participation dependent on progress against agreed objectives and ongoing mentor engagement.
The award represents an important milestone for Konree Innovation as it continues to grow its marine conservation impact and strengthen its international networks across the ocean innovation sector.
About Konree Innovation
Konree Innovation is an ocean-focused innovation company advancing solutions for marine conservation and sustainable ocean stewardship. Through science-led innovation, Konree is working to support healthier marine ecosystems and contribute to a more sustainable blue economy.
About Creative Destruction Lab
The Creative Destruction Lab is a nonprofit organisation delivering an objectives-based programme for massively scalable, seed-stage, science and technology-based companies. Founded at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, CDL operates globally across multiple locations and sector-focused streams. More information is available at: https://creativedestructionlab.com/.
About ATU iHub
ATU iHub supports innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs, and scaling businesses by providing access to enterprise supports, research expertise, incubation space, mentoring, and connections across the Atlantic Technological University innovation ecosystem.