Swiss Robotics company Nautica Technologies Secures €3.4 Million Funding

The round was led by b2venture, with backing from angel investors in the shipping and robotics sectors, along with Partners in Clime, Prequel Ventures, and Rethink Ventures.

“At Nautica, we’re transforming hull maintenance from a costly and reactive process to an automated, always-on system that enhances vessel performance while reducing environmental impact,” said Cédric Portmann, CEO and Co-founder of Nautica Technologies. “We’re happy to be backed by investors who believe in our mission to make shipping more sustainable and efficient. This investment marks an exciting step in bringing our technology to customers worldwide.”

Nautica Technologies, founded in 2024 by Cédric Portmann (EPFL) and Mina Kamel (ETH Zurich), is a Swiss robotics startup focused on revolutionising hull maintenance in the shipping industry.

The duo brings deep expertise in underwater and autonomous robotics to tackle one of maritime’s biggest challenges: biofouling.

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With no outside funding until recently, the team designed and built their autonomous underwater robots from scratch—testing them in labs, Swiss lakes, and now on globally operating ships.

Nautica’s mission is to reduce fuel use, emissions, and the spread of invasive species by proactively cleaning ship hulls. Its system uses a swarm of autonomous robots that clean and inspect hulls continuously—avoiding performance loss caused by marine growth.

Unlike traditional solutions like antifouling paints or manual diver cleaning, Nautica’s approach is consistent, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly—offering a smarter, greener way to maintain ships and improve compliance.

“Nautica’s proprietary technology addresses a critical challenge in the shipping industry, and their approach aligns perfectly with the growing demand for automation and sustainability in global supply chain operations. We are generally excited for vertical robotics applications and Nautica especially has the potential to redefine how the maritime industry manages hull maintenance,” added Jan-Hendrik Bürk at b2venture.

The global shipping industry is under growing pressure to reduce emissions, boost efficiency, and meet new rules like IMO CII and EU ETS. One of the biggest challenges is biofouling—marine growth on ship hulls—which Nautica says can raise fuel use by up to 35%, costing billions every year.

With more than 110,000 large vessels in service and stricter climate rules ahead, the need for smart, proactive hull maintenance solutions is set to rise sharply.

About Nautica Technologies

Nautica Technologies is building smart robotic systems for autonomous ship hull cleaning and inspection. Based in Zurich, we combine robotics, autonomy, and data to tackle major maritime challenges. Backed by top VCs, our world-class team is shaping the future of ship maintenance with cleaner, more efficient solutions.