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Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Duke I&E) is excited to announce Adam Berthold, founder of Deep Marine Innovations, as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Interplay Fellows Award.
Funded by a generous $1 million gift from Interplay, a New York City–based startup ecosystem, the Interplay Fellows program provides a one-time, non-dilutive award of up to $40,000 to an outstanding graduating Duke student founder. The fellowship is designed to support high-growth ventures by enabling founders to dedicate themselves full time to building their companies during the critical first year after graduation.
Deep Marine Innovations (DMI) develops intelligent underwater robotic platforms that make subsea operations safer, smarter, and more scalable. By advancing automation and data capabilities in underwater environments, DMI addresses key challenges in marine industries ranging from infrastructure inspection to environmental monitoring.
“Congratulations to Adam Berthold on being named this year’s Interplay Fellow,” said Jamie Jones, Director of Duke I&E. “Adam exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit we aim to cultivate at Duke. An entrepreneur combining technical innovation with a clear vision for real-world impact moving at top speed.”
As an Interplay Fellow, Berthold will receive up to $40,000 in funding along with ongoing mentorship and support from Interplay team members and Duke I&E faculty and staff. The program also connects fellows to Duke’s broader entrepreneurial community, providing critical guidance and resources as they transition from student to full-time founder.
“I’m incredibly honored to be selected as an Interplay Fellow,” said Berthold. “This support gives me the runway to focus fully on building Deep Marine Innovations and accelerating our mission to transform subsea operations. I’m excited to continue growing with the support of the Duke I&E and Interplay communities.”
The Interplay Fellows program is open to graduating Duke students from any degree program who are pursuing a for-profit or nonprofit venture, with preference given to founders demonstrating financial need and strong engagement with Duke I&E.
The award is made possible by the generous support of Interplay, whose commitment to fostering early-stage entrepreneurship enables Duke graduates to take bold steps in building impactful ventures.