Underwater robot startup Hullbot raises $16m for global scale-up
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The news: Ocean robotics startup Hullbot has raised $16 million in a Series A round, with plans to grow production capacity, evolve larger robotic systems and establish more international service hubs.
The context: The round was led by US firm Regeneration.VC, with participation from Katapult Ocean, Climate Tech Partners, Folklore Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Rypples, NewSouth Innovations, Artesian, and Impact Ventures/Ocean Impact Collective.
Founded in Sydney, Hullbot designs, builds, and deploys autonomous underwater robots that proactively clean and inspect ship hulls.
By enabling frequent cleaning, Hullbot says it delivers average fuel savings of 15%, and up to 26%, helping fleets cut operational costs while preventing pollution and reducing emissions.
Shipping accounts for around 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year and biofouling – marine organisms on a ship's hull – can drive fuel overconsumption by more than 20%, the company said.
Hullbot’s service has to date cleaned over 82 vessels across the US, EU, and APAC, including ferry, commercial shipping and fishing operations.
What they said: “We are committed to showing how Australian innovation can take on one of the world’s hardest-to-abate sectors,” said Hullbot founder and CEO Tom Loefler.
“Hullbot sits at the intersection of shipping efficiency, decarbonisation, and ocean health. This raise allows us to take that impact to the next level.”
The source: Hullbot media release
