Ocean intelligence vehicle maker raises funds
Saildrone’s oceangoing autonomous surface vehicles collect data that provides intelligence for climate, mapping, and maritime security applications. The new financing, says the company, will be used to grow its data insight teams and scale go-to-market functions to meet the rapidly growing demand for ocean domain intelligence.
Saildrone’s products are based on data collected from a fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) that are powered primarily by renewable wind and solar power. The company says that its USVs are the most reliable autonomous vehicles on the planet, sailing over 500,000 nautical miles and clocking more than 15,000 days at sea in some of the harshest conditions on the planet – from the ice edge in the high Arctic to the inhospitable Southern Ocean, and recently even into to the heart of Hurricane Sam.
In addition to collecting scientific data for climate intelligence and high-resolution bathymetric mapping of the ocean floor, the company also uses proprietary machine learning to provide marine domain awareness (MDA/ISR) for law enforcement and homeland security applications such as policing IUU fishing, counter narcotics operations, and marine sanctuary protection. Saildrone USVs are said to have a minimal carbon footprint and are equipped with advanced sensors and embedded ML/AI technology to deliver critical insights from any ocean, at any time of year.
The investment round was led by BOND, a global technology investment firm. The round includes new investors XN, Standard Investments, Emerson Collective, and Crowley Maritime Corporation, as well as participation from previous investors, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund, Lux Capital, Social Capital, and Tribe Capital.
“We are honored to have the BOND team and our new investors join our journey,” says Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO. “The combination of the most tried and tested autonomous ocean technology with the partnership of some of the most experienced venture capitalists in the world consolidates our industry leadership and enables our rapid growth path to meet the needs of our customers.”
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