DREAMS MAKE US
LIVE MORE
The Dream Pool opens in 2026. It is a growing collection of Ocean Dreams waiting for their chance.
You register your dream once, and when funding comes in; through sponsors, partners, or campaigns - we pick from the pool.
Some will be picked at random, others selected based on theme or impact. And if you don’t get picked right away? You’re still in the pool. Still part of the story.
Support comes in many forms: Funding, donated gear, mentorship, or simply being seen. Every pitch lives on our YouTube channel, where your community (and ours) can cheer you on. By showing up, you’re not only in the running for the Dream Fund - you’re opening the door to brands, mentors, and partners who may reach out to help you directly.
Support a DREAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
The Dream Pool opens in 2026. It is built for ocean people chasing bold visions—whether it’s launching a micro-expedition, finishing a film, building a prototype, or simply testing an idea no one’s dared to try. We back momentum, not perfection.
You register your dream once, and when funding comes in; through sponsors, partners, or campaigns - we pick from the pool.
Some will be picked at random, others selected based on theme or impact. And if you don’t get picked right away? You’re still in the pool. Still part of the story.
Because some dreams die too early, not for lack of heart, but for lack of €312, a GoPro, or just someone saying: “This matters. Go for it.”
We believe in giving brave ideas their first push.
The Dream Pool opens in 2026. Anyone with a dream that connects to the ocean. Ocean explorers, makers, thinkers, rebels. You can be solo, a small team, or part of something bigger. We’re here for the side projects, the secret blueprints, and the stories that never get told because no one dared to start.
Age, background, or experience doesn’t matter, although some campaigns may have limits set by sponsors. But in general; if your idea has heart, you're in.
Applicants under 18 must confirm parental or guardian consent.
Parents/guardians should be aware videos are public and part of a global campaign.
We fund small, powerful boosts. From €1,000 and more. Think seed money, not salary. A freediving shoot. A remote research trip. Materials for a sustainable surfboard. A trailer for your ocean doc.
The Dream Fund includes more than just money. Depending on the sponsor and campaign, you might receive grants, sponsored gear, mentorship, or access to events and courses.
We don’t fund: salaries, marketing campaigns, or fully established companies.
Record a short pitch (max. 60 seconds). It can be you speaking, clips of the ocean, your voice over — whatever feels right.
Upload it with your dream submission. All videos are published on our official YouTube playlist.
Selection happens in different ways depending on the round:
Random Picks — everyone has a fair chance.
Engagement Picks — the community can support your dream with likes.
Theme Rounds & Partner Collabs — sometimes sponsors or partners support dreams that match their focus (e.g. youth, expeditions, startups, or creative projects).
Dreams not chosen remain in the pool for future opportunities.
We also invite some grantees to be part of a spotlight feature, podcast, or HFX Originals interview.
By submitting, you agree that your video can be shared on YouTube, our website, social media, and in campaigns connected to HoldFastX. Comments on YouTube may be disabled or moderated for your protection.
The Dream Fund cannot take responsibility for how funding, gear, or mentorship is used. Winners are fully responsible for safety, permits, and outcomes of their dream. We do not provide insurance or legal support.
Designing a wetsuit from recycled fishing nets and testing it in Arctic waters. Needs seed funding for prototype materials.
Filming a short doc about traditional seaweed harvesters before the practice disappears. Needs a GoPro, editing support, and travel gear.
Attempting a 48-hour freedive relay to raise awareness about plastic waste. Needs safety gear and a small campaign budget.
Creating a soundscape from hydrophone recordings. Needs access to equipment and support releasing the tracks digitally.
Starting a surf club for coastal youth. Needs boards, safety vests, and coaching support.
MASTERCLASS X DREAMS
5 minutes. 5 skills.
This is the micro-version of our Masterclass: Five proven skills you can use on any dream. Freedivers use them before going under ice. Ocean rowers use them mid-storm. You can use them when saving for a sailboat, planning a dive trip to Galápagos, or chasing your own “impossible.”
Video © Freediver Li Karlsén
Learn from the world record freediver Li Karlsén:
→ Tool: Physiological sigh (two short inhales, one long exhale).
→ Science: Research shows it calms the nervous system in under 60 seconds.
→ Use it: When fear spikes before a deep dive, a cold swim, or a presentation.
Learn from the legendary cave explorer Jill Heinerth:
→ Tool: Write a “fail log”. After every setback, jot one lesson in a notebook.
→ Science: Studies on error-based learning show the brain rewires faster when failure is reframed as feedback.
→ Use it: After a capsized sailing attempt, a rejected application, or a missed time goal in training.
→ Tool: Create a one-line purpose statement and put it where you see it daily.
→ Science: Motivation research shows visible goals double persistence rates.
→ Use it: On your dive slate, taped to your paddle, or on your phone lock screen.
→ Tool: “Confidence contagion”. Borrow calm from others. Watch a clip, listen to a voice, or recall a mentor.
→ Science: Mirror neuron research shows your brain mirrors the emotional state you focus on.
→ Use it: Before launching a dinghy in bad weather or stepping onto a stage.
Did you know your brain releases dopamine just by visualizing a dream? It gives the same kick as reaching small goals.
→ Tool: Mental rehearsal. close your eyes and walk through each step, not just the finish line.
→ Science: MRI studies show visualization activates the same neural circuits as the action itself.
→ Use it: Picture gearing up, entering the water, equalizing, surfacing - not just “the dive.”
WORKSHOPS & CAMPS
A format for progress.
Dreams often fade because life gets in the way. Workshops and Virtual Dream Camps change that. They give you a clear format: Focused time, tested tools, and a push to take real steps.
Time is the most underrated resource dreamers forget to train.
- Protect your time: Studies show that dedicating even 20 minutes of focused work can increase goal completion by 60%+. In camp, you’ll learn how to block that time and actually use it.
Dream Camps are action labs. You’ll test proven methods straight from psychology, sports science, and the Masterclass mentors:
Stress-test your dream: Psychologists call it “implementation intention” - planning not just what to do, but how to handle setbacks. You’ll prepare for dips in motivation before they hit.
Tools in action: Breathing resets, visualization drills, and error reframes aren’t theory - they’re used by athletes, explorers, and freedivers. You’ll try one live and feel the shift.
Leave with momentum: Research on “goal gradients” shows motivation spikes when the next step is visible. Each session ends with your next step mapped - so the dream keeps moving.
→ Sign up to get notified when the first Dream Camps go live.
Coming Soon.
