Backing the builders ofmaritime's next operating layer

Software, infrastructure, and operational systems that move global trade forward

Impact Made

As of Apr 2026

$179M+Portfolio value increased since inception
$61.5MTotal capital raised by portfolio startups
12Maritime startups built and scaled
50+Countries or regions with live deployments
150+Corporate and policy co-R&D partnerships
1,000+Maritime founders and professionals engaged
350,000+tonnesDirect annual CO₂ emission reduction
500,000+tonnesAlternative fuels enabled annually

Subject to update

One portfolio across the maritime stack

01

Ships and robotics

BeeXPyxisClearbot
02

Fuel and energy

CetasolOfinitiCloselink
03

Coordination layer

ELXA
04

Capital and payments

thirdlyr
Efficiency Systems

Energy optimization at sea.

Cetasol's iHELM is a decision-support system for maritime energy optimization. The AI-enabled digital-twin system learns vessel operations and provides real-time recommendations to optimize fuel usage.

By supporting fuel savings and operational efficiency, iHELM helps reduce carbon emissions across small and medium-sized vessels.

Latest round€2.3MPre-Series A · Sep 2025
Total funding raised€4.3M
Vessels served300+Up from 200 in Dec 2025

Milestones

  1. Aesen and Cetasol signed a fleet-wide framework agreement to deploy iHelm across Aesen's 120 vessels.

  2. Cetasol launched Ceta AI, an AI agent for vessel operations.

  3. Stromma Group signed a long-term frame agreement with Cetasol for fleet-wide deployment of iHelm across its 140-vessel European fleet.

  4. Cetasol partnered with Furuno Sweden to make iHelm available directly within Furuno displays.

  5. Cetasol closed a seed round of EUR 2.3M co-led by BackingMinds and Shift4Good, with continued support from Sarsia.

  6. Cetasol incorporated a Singapore company to expand into Asia.

How we underwrite maritime technology

We combine maritime domain judgment with venture diligence across team, product, technology, commercial adoption, defensibility, and scale potential.

-01

Technology architecture

We examine whether the stack is dependable, forward looking, and able to support growth without creating hidden fragility.

-02

Product velocity

We look for development practices, feedback loops, and quality systems that can turn customer urgency into durable product progress.

-03

Team capability

We assess whether the team has the technical depth, operating discipline, and learning speed to execute the roadmap.

-04

IP and security

We review defensibility, data practices, and security posture where the product touches mission-critical maritime workflows.

-05

Differentiation

We map alternatives, switching friction, and the specific product advantage that can survive as the category matures.

-06

Dependency risk

We identify third-party dependencies and integration risks before they become constraints on reliability or scale.

-07

Scalability

We test whether performance, architecture, and go-to-market motion can compound from early signal to venture-scale adoption.

For FoundersBuilding What’s Next

If you’re reshaping how the world moves, let’s talk.

Get in touch