The Rise of AI and Regional Innovation in Maritime Tech

Every year, the maritime tech landscape evolves, driven by advancements in technology, regional innovation hotspots, and a surge in funding. The release of the “Global Maritime Tech Startup Map” for 2025 showcases 176 startups across various categories, signaling a growing trend towards artificial intelligence and a more widespread global distribution of innovation.

AI Adoption Accelerates, but Not Universally

One of the most significant trends in this year’s data is the rapid integration of artificial intelligence across the maritime sector. According to the report, 45% of the featured startups now incorporate AI in their offerings, a substantial increase from 27.5% in the previous year. However, the adoption of AI is not uniform across all segments.

Condition monitoring and maintenance tools lead the way, with 72% of startups in this category leveraging AI for anomaly detection, failure prediction, and performance optimization. In contrast, AI adoption lags in procurement (28%), ports and docks (40%), and crewing (33%), indicating potential areas for future disruption.

Funding Surges in Maritime Tech

Over the past year, maritime tech startups have attracted approximately $234 million in disclosed funding, a 73% increase from the previous year. Late-stage deals, such as Orca AI’s $72.5 million Series B round, have fueled much of this growth, highlighting investor confidence in the sector.

Singapore Leads, Greece Gains Ground

Singapore remains a global leader in maritime tech, with 30 listed startups on the map. The UK, US, and Germany closely follow, collectively representing over half of all startups featured. Greece is emerging as a hotspot, with five new startups added to the list, positioning the region third globally.

Thematic clustering reveals regional strengths, with the UK excelling in maritime finance and trading, the EU leading in green tech and decarbonization, and Singapore boasting a diverse ecosystem across eight categories.

Youthful, Agile, and Software-Driven Startups

The “Global Maritime Tech Startup Map” focuses on independent startups founded after 2015, with a core focus on software solutions. This emphasis underscores the dynamic nature of maritime digitalization and the transformative impact of AI on traditional business models.

Despite the rapid changes and undisclosed activities in the sector, the overall trend is clear: maritime startups are scaling, AI is reshaping the industry, and new regions like Greece and Singapore are driving the next wave of innovation in shipping.

Graphic courtesy Flagship Founders