The autonomous navigation industry—an emerging sector in which ships use artificial intelligence to guide themselves, saving both fuel and time—is predicted to exceed $11 billion by 2028. Riding this wave of market enthusiasm, London-based maritime technology company Orca AI has successfully closed a Series B funding round totaling $72.5 million. This latest round was led by Brighton Park Capital, alongside participation from existing investors Ankona Capital and Hyperlink Ventures, bringing Orca AI’s overall funding to over $111 million. Last year, the company raised an additional $23 million in financing.
Orca AI was founded in 2018 by CEO Yarden Gross and CTO Dor Raviv. The firm’s technology harnesses advanced AI-driven decision-making capabilities designed for the maritime industry, drawing from an expansive marine visual dataset compiled from over 80 million nautical miles of recorded data. By incorporating artificial intelligence into ship navigation systems, Orca AI aims to significantly reduce collisions at sea, allowing crews more time and attention to handle other crucial tasks onboard.
Although commercial shipping remains Orca AI’s primary focus—where it already has active engagements and pilot projects—the potential for extensive growth within the defense sector has proven a key driver behind the recent funding round. Gross explained that navies across the globe have expressed a growing interest in autonomous maritime solutions as part of their efforts to streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase asset efficiency through decreased reliance on manual human intervention. Crucially, Orca AI has already secured its first defense contract, deploying its autonomous navigation solution aboard a navy vessel.
Additionally, Orca AI has strategically leveraged the rapid expansion of Starlink satellite connectivity to enhance its product performance. Starlink permits real-time transmission of crucial navigation data directly from ships at sea. Gross described this capability as “a huge opportunity,” facilitating expansive data collection and real-time analytics.
According to a study conducted in 2024, the deployment of Orca AI’s maritime alert system resulted in a 54% reduction in incidents involving close encounters. The technology also demonstrated substantial financial advantages, providing average fuel savings worth approximately $100,000 per vessel annually.
Orca AI is one of several firms pursuing advancements in maritime autonomous technology, sharing the market space with notable competitors such as Avikus, a subsidiary of Hyundai HD, and the Boston-based firm Sea Machines.
