Oct 23, 2024
Leading global investors Antares Ventures, Spring Impact Capital, Katapult Ocean, and Alacrity Canada back Open Ocean Robotics.
VICTORIA, British Columbia (October 23, 2024)—Open Ocean Robotics (OOR), a maritime
robotics and AI company transforming ocean monitoring, announced today the close of a
CA$2.8M investment round.
The round was co-led by Antares Ventures, a Singapore-based deep-tech venture fund focused on sustainability challenges in Southeast Asia, and Spring Impact Capital, a Canadian impact venture fund, with participation from Katapult Ocean, Alacrity Canada, DTN Ventures, individual investors, and PacifiCan.
The funds will support product and technological advancements, geographic expansion into Southeast Asia, and scaling manufacturing of its uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). To advance its innovative solutions in Southeast Asian markets, OOR is currently participating in the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge, an initiative of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the National University of Singapore.
“This investment from leading global impact investors underscores their confidence in our company and our vision for sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable ocean monitoring,” says Julie Angus, CEO and co-founder of OOR. “With this funding, we will expand our ability to help maritime companies and agencies achieve safe and secure ocean monitoring through real-time data provided by our USVs and AI systems.”
As the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland, Julie’s deep connection to and understanding of the world’s oceans has guided OOR’s success. Their USVs have been used to safeguard marine protected areas against illegal fishing, protect endangered whale populations, and help restore maritime biodiversity.
Traditionally, monitoring coastlines and open waters required fixed assets on shore, satellites, crewed ships, or aircraft, which were expensive, labor-intensive, and polluting. OOR provides safe, affordable, sustainable, and scalable ocean monitoring solutions that are solar-powered, allowing their uncrewed surface vehicles to operate at sea for months at a time, collecting data with a suite of sensors without producing GHG emissions, noise pollution, or risking oil spills.
“We are excited to support Julie’s mission to revolutionize and decarbonize ocean monitoring through advanced technology,” says Michael Gryseels, Founder and Managing Partner of Antares Ventures. “Open Ocean Robotics' solutions empower private and public organizations with safer more affordable, and sustainable coastal and open ocean oceanographic and maritime data collection, enhancing marine resource understanding and preservation for a sustainable future.”
"Spring has been supporting Open Ocean Robotics since 2019, when we first saw how Julie Angus was delivering on a compelling vision for the future of ocean data and the impact it can have on all facets of marine and land life,” says Keith Ippel, Spring Impact Capital Managing Partner and Spring Co-CEO. “We’re excited to help her scale her company with measurable success and impact.”
About Open Ocean Robotics
Open Ocean Robotics is a Victoria, Canada-based maritime robotics and AI company dedicated to transforming ocean monitoring through advanced uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) technology. Using solar-powered USVs equipped with a suite of sensors, the company delivers real-time, scalable, and environmentally friendly ocean data solutions for a range of industries, including environmental monitoring, security, and research.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@openoceanrobotics.com | 250.580.2628
A press kit is available at https://www.openoceanrobotics.com/press
About Antares Ventures
Antares Ventures is a pioneering Deep Tech VC Fund based in Singapore, strategically investing in early-stage, deep-science-backed ventures that address sustainability in Asia's growth markets, such as the energy transition, industrial decarbonization, sustainable cities, mobility, agriculture, and healthcare. With a global mandate, Antares targets exceptional deep-tech ventures aspiring to expand across Asia's dynamic markets, providing hands-on support through its leadership experience, proprietary market insights, in-house value creation team, senior advisors, corporate partners, and extensive local networks. For more information, visit www.antares.ventures.
About Spring Impact Capital
Spring Impact Capital is an impact venture capital fund investing in innovative solutions in human and planetary health. The fund is focused on early-stage Canadian founders building companies that are values-driven, favouring diverse leadership. Companies should be seeking to scale with their revenues aligned with a positive influence on people or the planet. The fund is led by Managing Partners Keith Ippel, Graham Day and Olivia Hornby. Learn more at springimpactcapital.com.
