Iván Hernández Dalas: HavocAI obtains $85M to scale autonomous marine systems

The 100-ft. Atlas vessel has the most capabilities of the growing HavocAI autonomous fleet.

The 100-ft. Atlas vessel has the most capabilities of HavocAI’s autonomous fleet. Source: HavocAI

HavocAI Inc. last week announced that it has secured $85 million in new capital. The Providence, R.I.-based company said it plans use the funding to scale its autonomous marine platforms.

“This funding represents far more than just capital – it has enabled us to cut through the noise about maritime autonomy and build a collaborative autonomy stack that actually works in a very short time,” stated Paul Lwin, co-founder and CEO of HavocAI.

“We’ve put two new boats in the water this year, and we’re going to add two more before the year is over, including our 100-ft. Atlas multi-mission vessel,” he added. “Our swarming autonomy accomplishes priority missions today, not at an unknown point in the future. This technology is needed right now.”

Founded in 2024, HavocAI said it has delivered more than 30 fully operational products to the U.S. military and demonstrated scalable collaborative autonomy to the Navy and Army in multiple real-world scenarios.

HavocAI follows software course to autonomous vessels

HavocAI said it has pursued a “software-first strategy” because there is enough shipbuilding capacity to serve military and commercial needs. It asserted that superior autonomy can create “heterogeneous, self-organizing fleets in which hundreds or potentially thousands of vessels can be tasked by a single operator.”

The company has four distinct vessels in production — the 14-ft. (4.2 m) Rampage, 38-ft. (11.5 m) Seahound, 42-ft. (12.8 m) Kiakoa, and 100-ft. (30.4 m) Atlas. It has also signed partnership agreements with Lockheed Martin, PacMar Technologies, Metal Shark, Ilmor, Tocaro Blue, and more.

HavocAI claimed that it has consistently demonstrated working autonomy on its vessels and several made by other builders. The startup said it plans to use the latest funding to directly support multiple strategic initiatives, including the following primary missions:

  • Additional vessel integration: Beyond its current fleet of vessels, HavocAI will use the funding to integrate autonomy into entirely new vessel types and sizes, increasing the capability and interoperability of platforms using its technology.
  • Supporting increased demand: The company intends to increase manufacturing capacity to meet the U.S. military’s stated interest in building thousands of autonomous boats that it can use immediately.
  • Aiding allies and partners: HavocAI said the funding will enable it to operate in non-U.S. areas of responsibility and provide additional direct support to international allies and partners, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Funding recognizes growing strategic importance

HavocAI’s funding came from new investors B Capital, In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin, Hanwha, Taiwania, Vanderbilt University, Up Partners, Island Green Capital, and Zero Infinity Partners. It also received continued support from Scout Ventures and Outlander Ventures in addition to other early funders.

The funding round brings HavocAI’s total funding to nearly $100 million. The company noted that it was “completed at a significant valuation increase” and that it was an “achievement for a maritime autonomy company in its first year and a half of operations.”

“HavocAI represents exactly the kind of company we look for – one that combines cutting-edge technology with the proven ability to sell and execute,” said Howard Morgan, chairman and general partner at B Capital. “HavocAI is actually delivering working solutions that solve real operational challenges. Their ability to demonstrate functional autonomous systems at scale sets them apart as the clear market leader in this critical technology area.”

HavocAI added that the funding will allow it “to ensure long-term operational resilience and demonstrate the financial stability that government customers require from emerging defense technology partners.” All of its recent investors bring not only capital, but also geographic and technological collaborations to multiply the company’s capabilities, it said.

“The funding round also reflects growing international recognition of HavocAI’s strategic importance, particularly among allies focused on maritime security and deterrence capabilities,” said the company. “The participation of prominent Indo-Pacific investors underscores the global nature of maritime security challenges and the universal need for advanced autonomous capabilities.”

“Our investment reflects our belief that HavocAI is making real, measurable contributions to regional stability through technological superiority,” said David Weng, General Partner at Taiwania. “Going forward, one of our goals is to bring HavocAI to collaborate with local partners here in Taiwan.”

The post HavocAI obtains $85M to scale autonomous marine systems appeared first on The Robot Report.



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