The maritime industry is in the midst of a tech revolution, and AI is steering the ship. Recent reports, like the Global Maritime Tech Startup Map 2025 by Flagship Founders and SkySail Advisors’ Maritime Technology Landscape, paint a picture of a sector bursting with innovation, yet grappling with fragmentation and a lack of standardization.
The Global Maritime Tech Startup Map 2025, the third of its kind, now features 176 startups, a jump from 149 the previous year. These startups are independent, software-focused, and primarily active in the maritime industry. The map reveals a significant uptick in AI adoption. In 2025, 45% of featured startups report using AI in their offerings, a substantial rise from 27.5% the previous year. The condition and maintenance category is an AI hotspot, with 72% of startups integrating AI into their products. Meanwhile, communications and information management startups founded in the past three years are using AI at a rate that will likely drive broader AI adoption in the segment.
Christopher Aversano, partnership lead at Wood Mackenzie, sees AI as the linchpin for maritime tech development. He emphasizes that the key to success lies in leveraging AI to incorporate users’ data. The map also highlights Europe as the dominant hub for maritime startups, thanks to its proximity to industry talent and supportive investment policies. However, Tabitha Logan, director of projects at Cetus Maritime, points to exciting developments in Asia and the Middle East, driven by large Asian CVCs actively investing in the maritime sector.
SkySail Advisors’ Maritime Technology Landscape, released last month, complements the Flagship Founders map. It features over 170 companies divided into three main categories: commercial operations, vessel management, and intelligence and analytics. Aversano notes a 13% growth in the number of companies compared to the June 2021 edition, indicating market diversification and maturation.
Yet, the sheer number of companies—around 350 in just these two publications—is just the tip of the iceberg. Nick Chubb, founder of Thetius, reveals that there are 4,915 suppliers in the maritime technology sector. He underscores the importance of small and medium enterprises, which often get overlooked in favor of startups raising money. These businesses, by his definition, are over five years old but with under 250 employees, and they play a crucial role in driving innovation.
However, the boom in maritime tech isn’t without its challenges. Manish Singh, shipping investment consultant and CEO of Maris Investments, highlights the growing vulnerability of congestion over clarity. He points out that too many point solutions address similar problems in indistinguishable ways, leading to fragmentation. Kris Kosmala, a partner at Click & Connect, agrees, noting that consolidation is possible but unlikely, especially for startups. He explains that many startups are content with a few clients and a couple of hundred ships, lacking a go-to-market strategy to dominate the entire market.
The unintended result of this fragmentation is a signal overload for the average customer, with a lot of noise and uncertainty about which solutions can actually scale. Singh even points to cases where investors acquired companies without a clear product or strategic thesis. In essence, maritime professionals don’t need more apps; they need integrated, scalable solutions.
This rapid technological transformation in the maritime industry is reshaping the sector’s landscape. The influx of AI-driven startups and the growing number of companies in the maritime technology realm indicate a dynamic and evolving market. However, the challenges of fragmentation and the need for integration pose significant hurdles. As the industry navigates these waters, the focus must shift from mere innovation to meaningful, scalable solutions that can truly drive the sector forward. The future of maritime tech lies not just in the number of startups, but in their ability to integrate, consolidate, and deliver value to the industry at large.