Blue Water Autonomy isn’t just raising capital—it’s raising the stakes in the race for maritime autonomy. The Boston-based startup just secured $50 million in Series A funding, led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), with all existing investors doubling down. This follows a $14 million seed round earlier this year, bringing the company’s total haul to $64 million. The cash infusion isn’t just about scaling up—it’s about scaling out, fast. Blue Water plans to build and deploy its first long-range, full-sized autonomous ship next year, a move that could reshape both military and commercial shipping.
The company’s focus is razor-sharp: long-range, open-ocean autonomy designed for maritime security and logistics. CEO Rylan Hamilton puts it bluntly: “There is an urgent need for autonomous ships designed specifically for maritime security and logistics.” This isn’t about tinkering with existing vessels—it’s about building from the keel up, with a single platform class that prioritizes quality, speed, and reliability. That’s a bold bet, but it’s one backed by a team of Navy veterans who know the stakes. They’ve quadrupled their workforce since the seed round, completed on-water engineering tests, and started locking down long-lead materials from over 50 suppliers. This isn’t just a startup—it’s a shipbuilding operation in hyperdrive.
The urgency isn’t just internal. The Pentagon is accelerating plans for autonomous vessels, with $2.1 billion in new Congressional funding earmarked for medium-sized unmanned surface vessels. Blue Water’s ships fit squarely in that category, and the company is positioning itself as a key player in a market where the U.S. is playing catch-up. China, for instance, dominates global shipbuilding with over 200 times greater capacity than the U.S., and it’s growing its combat fleet while U.S. warship production stalls. Blue Water’s approach—fusing shipbuilding expertise with robotics innovation—could be the edge the Navy needs.
But the implications stretch far beyond defense. Hamilton and his team see massive potential in commercial maritime markets, where dull, dangerous, and dirty jobs at sea could be automated. That’s a vision that aligns with the growing push for autonomy in industries like offshore wind, cargo transport, and even aquaculture. The company’s recent expansion into Washington, D.C., and its growing roster of shipbuilding veterans—including those who’ve delivered destroyers and amphibious ships to the Navy—underscore its credibility. It’s not just about building ships; it’s about building a new paradigm for how ships operate.
GV’s Dave Munichiello, who joins Blue Water’s board, puts it succinctly: “Rylan exemplifies that—pairing vision with disciplined execution.” That’s the kind of leadership needed to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world impact. As Blue Water Autonomy races toward its first full-sized autonomous ship, the maritime industry is watching—and waiting to see how this startup’s bold bets could reshape the seas.