French Deeptech Startup Cosma Secures €2.5M to Build ‘Google Maps’ of the Ocean Floor

The round was co-led by WIND and Ternel, with participation from 50 Partners, Caisse d’Épargne Côte d’Azur, and IFREMER — the national marine science research institute that originally incubated the project. The round is further bolstered by significant non-dilutive public funding, potentially doubling the total capital raised.

Autonomous Swarms to Digitally Twin the Seabed

Founded in 2022 and currently hosted within IFREMER’s underwater systems unit in La Seyne-sur-Mer, Cosma has developed a unique approach to deep-sea mapping using swarms of autonomous underwater robots. These robots can capture up to 100,000 images per hectare of the seabed, which are processed using 3D photogrammetry and AI-driven recognition algorithms to identify habitats and species.

The resulting digital twin of the seabed delivers repeatable, reliable, and interpretable data — a game-changer for studying benthic ecosystems.

“Cosma was born from the conviction that biological data should be just as accessible and reliable as physical measurements in marine projects,” said Frédéric Mittaine, CEO of Cosma. “Our technology enables large-scale operations while placing biodiversity at the heart of decision-making.”

From Renewable Energy to National Defense

Cosma’s technology has already attracted major clients including RWE, EGIS, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the French Navy (Marine Nationale). Its platform helps these organisations:

• Conduct robust scientific and environmental studies
• Avoid disturbing sensitive marine species during offshore construction
• Monitor and protect critical underwater infrastructure
• Evaluate the role of seagrass meadows in coastal protection

“Cosma’s technology has the potential to become the ‘Google Maps’ of the seafloor,” said Olivier Mougenot, General Partner at WIND. “It brings essential visibility to marine ecosystems and ensures informed decisions in infrastructure development.”

Addressing the Ocean’s Data Deficit

Today, only 25% of the ocean floor has been mapped with high resolution (less than 100x100 meters), and less than 1% of marine species have been identified. Cosma is working to close that gap.

“The need for knowledge is immense, and Cosma opens new perspectives to better observe, understand, and protect our ocean,” said Romain Charraudeau, Director of Technology Transfer at IFREMER.

Next Steps: Scaling the Vision

With this new funding, Cosma plans to:

• Industrialise its autonomous drone fleet
• Expand its software and AI-based analysis tools
• Build operational capacity to serve both public and private clients across Europe

By combining frontier robotics, imaging, and machine learning, Cosma is poised to revolutionise how we map, manage, and preserve the ocean’s most fragile ecosystems — making marine biodiversity a measurable, actionable part of every offshore decision.