About Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand
The Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand comprises 52 companies, including 8 funded companies having collectively raised $20.3M in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 3 are Series A+ funded.
Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand has seen 2 acquisitions.
This sector includes companies manufacturing innovative ships/boats. Companies providing technology based solutions for ship/boat manufacturing and shipping industry.
Maritime Tech sector is also known as Maritime Tech or Marine Tech.
Includes Companies providing Innovative Ships, Shipbuilding solutions. Also providing, Marine Electronics including Radar System, Collision Avoidance System, Navigation and Control systems, etc.
Also includes Marine IT solutions for ship operations, port management, Marine data tracking, and management, etc Excludes Manufacturing companies including Shipbuilders, Engine Manufacturers, Component Manufacturers.
Also Excludes Companies providing water transport solutions including Cruise & Ferry Operators, Catering and Entertainment Services, Port Operators and Agents, Freight Forwarders, Inland Shipping Companies, Ship Leasing Companies, etc
Top Maritime Tech Companies in New Zealand
There are 52 Maritime Tech startups in New Zealand which include Vesper Marine, ZeroJet, Tectrax, Starboard, Starboard Maritime Intelligence. Out of these, 8 startups are funded, with 3 having secured Series A+ funding.
Over the past 10 years, an average of 2 new companies have been launched annually.
Here is the list of top Maritime Tech startups in New Zealand
Vesper Marine is a New Zealand-based developer of marine safety products. The company develops a range of AIS equipment including transponder, receiver and display solutions and accessories like splitters and antennas. Company has also developed virtual beacons, a hazard-based warning system. The company has also developed asset protection solutions which combine location from AIS transponders with virtual Aids to Navigation (AtoNs). These solutions are used by vessel owners for monitoring purposes. Company's AIS transponders are wifi connected and data can be visualized on phones.
Key facts about Vesper Marine
- Founded Year: 2007
- Location: Auckland (New Zealand)
- Stage: Acquired
- Investors: Hirvi, Hd Holdings and 18 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 44/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 5 of 108 Competitors
2. ZeroJet
Itis a start-up that develops high-performance electric jet propulsion systems for boats. They offer electric jet systems for hard tenders and Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) in various configurations. ZeroJet aims to electrify boat fleets and provide safe, easy-to-use, compact, and quiet electric jet tenders and RIBs.
Key facts about ZeroJet
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Wellington (New Zealand)
- Stage: Funding Raised
- Investors: Movac, Investible and 2 Others
- Tracxn Score: 36/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 40 of 257 Competitors
3. Tectrax
Provider of electric navigation systems for boats. It offers a digital boat automation system that can be retrofitted on an existing boat and operated using joysticks. Its features include a readable display, multiple dash panel layouts, battery management systems, electric hub motors, traction control, and regenerative braking.
Key facts about Tectrax
- Founded Year: 2017
- Location: Taupo (New Zealand)
- Stage: Funding Raised
- Investors: Movac
- Tracxn Score: 35/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 10 of 108 Competitors
4. Starboard
Provider of cloud-based software offering marine traffic data. It offers web-based software that enables users to monitor and track vessel movements globally. Its features include real-time and historical movements of vessels, automatic identification system(AIS) data analysis, marine risk detection and analysis, detection of non-reporting dark vessels, and automated data processing and intelligence. It can also detect port visits, fishing activity, and meeting of two vessels.
Key facts about Starboard
- Founded Year: 2020
- Location: New Zealand
- Stage: Seed
- Total Funding till date: $5M
- Investors: Altered Capital, Icehouse Ventures and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Seed, Apr 04, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 35/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 23 of 117 Competitors
Provider of maritime intelligence software solutions for fisheries monitoring and security. The software transforms data for effective detection of illegal fishing. It reduces the risk of invasive species entering maritime borders. The software plans and analyzes satellite data to detect dark vessels. It also plans, monitors, and protects critical maritime infrastructure.
Key facts about Starboard Maritime Intelligence
- Founded Year: 2020
- Location: New Zealand
- Stage: Series A
- Total Funding till date: $13.5M
- Investors: Altered Capital, King River and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series A, Sep 08, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 34/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 18 of 173 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand
8 Maritime Tech startups in New Zealand were founded in 2018 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | - |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 1 |
2022 | 2 |
2021 | 2 |
2020 | 6 |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | 8 |
2017 | 3 |
Stage-wise distribution of Maritime Tech sector companies in New Zealand
Out of the total 52 Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand, 8 have secured funding. Among them, 3 have reached Series A or higher, and 2 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 52
Funded - 8
Series A+ - 3
Series B+ - 2
Series C+ - 2
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 52 |
Funded | 8 |
Series A+ | 3 |
Series B+ | 2 |
Series C+ | 2 |
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Funding Trends in the Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand
Recent Funding Rounds in Maritime Tech in New Zealand
In the year 2025, till September 2025, Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand have raised $15.3M in equity funding across 2 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till April 2024), Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand had raised $5M across 1 round.
So, 2025 has seen a 206.28% rise in funding in Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand as compared to 2024.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series A | 8808 | Sep 08, 2025 | ||
Seed | 4022 | Sep 01, 2025 | ||
Seed | 7564 | Apr 04, 2024 | ||
Seed | 9583 | Dec 23, 2021 | ||
Seed | 4190 | 2021 |
Top Investors in Maritime Tech in New Zealand
Icehouse Ventures is the top investor in Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Maritime Tech companies in New Zealand:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Auckland (New Zealand) | ||
Auckland (New Zealand) | ||
Wellington (New Zealand) | ||
Surry Hills (Australia) | ||
Auckland (New Zealand) | Vesper Marine and ZeroJet |
M&A activity in Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand
In the year 2022, till January 2022, 1 acquisition happened in Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Jan 03, 2022 | ||
Business Acquisition | Oct 01, 2019 |
Acquisition trends in Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand
Here are the acquisition trends in Maritime Tech sector in New Zealand:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | - |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | - |
2020 | - |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | - |
2017 | - |
