Mirai Robotics, a European artificial intelligence and robotics startup developing autonomous maritime systems, has raised $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to advance technology designed to automate complex operations at sea.
The Milan-announced funding round is one of the largest pre-seed investments in Italy’s robotics and deep-tech sector and was led by Primo Capital, with participation from Techshop, 40Jemz Ventures, and several Italian and international angel investors. The capital will support product development, team expansion, and new pilot programs with industrial and institutional partners.
Mirai Robotics is focused on building autonomous surface vehicles and intelligence systems designed to monitor, patrol, and manage maritime environments. The company aims to address a growing need for automation across the maritime sector, where operational costs, safety risks, and a shortage of skilled personnel continue to challenge traditional human-operated models.
Global maritime activity represents a significant share of economic infrastructure. More than 80 percent of global trade moves by sea, and roughly 95 percent of international internet traffic flows through subsea cables. Despite its economic importance, maritime operations remain one of the least digitized sectors, with limited continuous monitoring and heavy reliance on human operators.
Mirai Robotics is developing autonomous vehicles capable of persistent surveillance, monitoring, and control in coastal and offshore environments. The systems integrate advanced sensing technologies, autonomous navigation, artificial intelligence, and remote control features. The vehicles can operate independently or as part of distributed fleets to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
In addition to its proprietary platforms, the company is also developing autonomy and navigation systems that can be integrated into third-party vessels. This approach allows maritime operators and institutional organizations to adopt autonomous capabilities without fully redesigning their fleets.
The company was founded by CEO Luciano Belviso, entrepreneur and technology designer Luca Mascaro, and Talent Garden founder Davide Dattoli, who serves as a board member. Belviso previously built and led Blackshape, an aircraft design and manufacturing company later acquired by Angel Holding. Mascaro founded Sketchin, a digital product design firm acquired by BIP Group, where he later served as Chief Innovation Officer.
Mirai Robotics is headquartered in Puglia, Italy, which the company selected for its proximity to maritime industries, research institutions, and engineering talent. The startup has assembled a pan-European team specializing in artificial intelligence, robotics, complex systems, and mission-critical operations, and collaborates with leading universities and research centers.
The company describes its strategy as a “robotics lab” approach, emphasizing the development of integrated physical autonomy technologies capable of operating in demanding environments where reliability and safety are critical.
Mirai Robotics believes autonomous maritime systems will play an increasingly central role in supporting global trade, maritime security, and the broader blue economy, which is estimated to be worth more than $2.5 trillion and projected to exceed $4 trillion by 2030.
KEY QUOTES:
“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures not yet governed by software. Autonomy is the key to finally making the oceans safe and usable, unlocking enormous resources and addressing critical security challenges. But it must be implemented through systems capable of operating continuously and safely in extreme environments. This is a technological and industrial challenge that requires a true robotics-lab approach.”
Luciano Belviso, CEO of Mirai Robotics
“The maritime domain is at an inflection point. We’re looking at a huge economy that still relies on operational models designed decades ago. The human capital gap alone—thousands of unfilled roles, aging workforces, increasing operational risk—makes the status quo unsustainable. What Mirai Robotics is building isn’t just automation; it’s the fundamental infrastructure layer that will allow the blue economy to scale safely and efficiently. Italy’s shipbuilding heritage combined with this caliber of robotics and AI talent creates a genuinely unique opportunity.”
Gianluca Dettori, Partner at Primo Capital
