Vanessa Scott leads industry and innovation initiatives at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego and has supported Scripps research innovations, spin outs, and industry collaborations including the Scripps Corporate Alliance since 2019. She also leads the StartBlue Accelerator from Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Rady School of Management that supports the formation of advanced science and engineering startups tackling ocean-focused challenges and solutions integrated into science, industry, investment, and government networks. Launched in 2020 through the Build to Scale Industry Challenge grant from the Economic Development Administration, StartBlue has supported 2 cohorts of blue economy startups including 14 teams with 42% female founders that raised $8.3 million collectively. Her background is in business development, marketing and communications in the biotech industry with over a decade and a half of experience cultivating strong industry partnerships and facilitating opportunities for collaboration and growth. She also has extensive experience working in non-profit fundraising and marine conservation organizations. Vanessa completed a Masters in Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography where she developed a business and marketing plan for Smartfin, an ocean-focused startup, to support the launch from lab to market. Her passion and expertise is at the intersection of climate and ocean science, innovation and industry with the goal to identify, develop and support the commercialization of solutions that improve the health of people, the ocean and the environment.