Berlin-based venture studio Flagship Founders has released its Global Maritime Tech Startup Map 2025, showing an increased use of artificial intelligence across a growing number of maritime startups.
The third edition of the annual release lists 176 companies, up from 149 in 2024. Some 45% of listed start-ups now report integrating AI into their offerings, compared to 27.5% last year.
Adoption is highest in the ‘Condition & Maintenance’ category, where 72% of start-ups use AI. Among start-ups in ‘Communications & Information Management’ founded within the past three years, 90% include AI features.
By contrast, AI uptake remains lower in categories such as ‘Procurement’ (28%), ‘Ports & Docks’ (40%), and ‘Crewing & Crew Management’ (33%).
The map also highlights a 73% year-on-year increase in disclosed start-up funding, reaching US$234 million. This growth was largely driven by later-stage rounds, including a US$72.5 million Series B raised by Orca AI.
Geographically, Singapore, the UK, Germany, and the US have dominated the start-up landscape. Greece recorded the largest year-on-year increase, growing from nine to 14 listed startups. Combined with Cyprus, the region now ranks third globally in total startup numbers.
Thematic clustering is also becoming more visible, with nearly half of the finance and insurance startups based in the UK, while continental Europe accounts for 80% of startups focused on green tech and decarbonisation. Singapore leads in both total number and diversity of startups, with 30 listed across eight categories.
“We’re pleased to see the maritime tech ecosystem evolving so strongly – especially in terms of AI integration. The key question now is whether companies are ready to systematically adopt these solutions and truly modernise their processes,” said Fabian Feldhaus, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Flagship Founders.
“At the same time, AI-driven startups must demonstrate real value and impact. If both sides work together effectively, the industry could make a genuine leap forward, potentially skipping over some of the painful digitalisation steps other sectors struggled with for decades.”
The Startup Map includes software-focused startups founded in 2015 or later that remain independent and are active primarily in the maritime industry. Flagship Founders notes that the uneven public disclosure of information may result in under-representation in some regions.
