Saildrone, a leader in maritime autonomy, announced the closing of a $60 million investment round led by EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark.
What the funding will be used for: The funding will be used to bring Saildrone technology to Europe, addressing the urgent need for maritime security for critical infrastructure and wider defense applications.
Value proposition: The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats, and the need for maritime domain awareness has never been greater. And Saildrone’s extreme endurance unmanned surface vehicles utilize sophisticated sensors and proprietary AI algorithms to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface.
Along with EIFO, other participants in the round included existing investors Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy Securities, joined by new investors Pinegrove, BZH Capital, What If Ventures, and Calm Ventures.
Saildrone will deploy the first four Saildrone Voyagers in the Baltic Sea in June 2025, under contract to the Danish Armed Forces.
KEY QUOTES:
“I am thrilled to partner with EIFO and the Danish government to establish Saildrone’s European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark’s unique geographic and political position at the heart of northern Europe makes it the perfect place to establish our European headquarters and operational hub. Working initially with the Danish Armed Forces, we plan to roll out Saildrone’s maritime intelligence services to multiple NATO countries during the course of the year. Our goal is to provide 24/7, year-round coverage for all critical infrastructure within the Baltic and North Sea, safeguarding these highly valuable installations for current and future generations.”
Richard Jenkins, Saildrone’s founder and CEO
“We are thrilled to invest in Saildrone and subsequently that Denmark has been chosen as the center for Saildrone’s European activities. Saildrone is a leading company in a rapidly growing market, and gaining access to this technology can become critical for both Denmark’s and Europe’s security. We expect Saildrone will have an impact on both the Danish defense industry and the Danish challenges with surveillance in the Arctic and counteracting sabotage in Danish waters—at a fraction of the cost of a patrol ship.”
Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO
