Saildrone Is Bringing Maritime Defense To Europe Next

One of the most important unmanned surface vessel startups in the world has landed a new infusion of cash. And they’re going to use it to begin securing the Baltic and North Seas.

What’s happening:

• Autonomous maritime technology startup Saildrone has raised $60M USD in a new strategic financing round
  
• The new funding now was led by the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark
  

Why it matters:‍

• Saildrone is one of the fastest growing private companies in the world for uncrewed surface vehicles and has landed multiple notable partnerships with both government agencies and publicly traded companies, including NASA and Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR)
  

Going deeper:‍

• The new funding will specifically go towards deploying Saildrone’s unmanned surface vessels in the Baltic and North Seas for security and defense in partnership with the Danish Armed Forces
  
• Saildrone’s unmanned surface vessels leverage artificial intelligence technology for monitoring activity both above and below the sea surface and are capable of operating at a much lower cost than traditional ships built for patrolling the ocean
  
• Saildrone has also previously landed some of the most prominent venture capital funds in the world as investors, including Lux Capital, Social Capital, Tribe Capital and Horizon Ventures
  

The intrigue:‍

• Unmanned surface vessels have also been on the rise in the public markets, with drone and defense tech company Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) just recently announcing they are officially beginning to manufacture their first ever unmanned surface vessels

‍