Total amount raised
$189.5 Million
Latest funding date
10/01/2021
Location
Saildrone has successfully raised significant funding over 8 rounds, with notable investments from Lockheed Martin and Academy Securities. The company is advancing unmanned surface vehicle capabilities, particularly for defense missions.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Saildrone's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative maritime platform.
What Is Saildrone?
Saildrone, based in Alameda, California, is a pioneering company in maritime autonomy and defense. Founded by Richard Jenkins, the company operates in industries such as AI, Big Data, Drones, Manufacturing, and Marine Technology.
With a workforce of 251-500 employees, Saildrone has over 12 years of operational experience, covering more than 2 million nautical miles and 60,000 days at sea. The company specializes in providing autonomous maritime solutions for defense and environmental monitoring, leveraging AI and advanced sensor technology to deliver actionable intelligence and reduce operational costs and risks.
How Much Funding Has Saildrone Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: USD 2,500,000
- Date: December 2015
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To develop initial prototypes and validate the technology.
- Series A Round
- Amount Raised: USD 14,000,000
- Date: September 2016
- Lead Investors: Social Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand the fleet and enhance data collection capabilities.
- Series A Round
- Amount Raised: USD 12,000,000
- Date: February 2017
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To further scale operations and improve technology.
- Series B Round
- Amount Raised: USD 60,000,000
- Date: May 2018
- Lead Investors: Horizons Ventures
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To accelerate market entry and expand the team.
- Grant
- Amount Raised: USD 1,000,000
- Date: April 2021
- Lead Investors: Google.org
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To support environmental monitoring initiatives.
- Series C Round
- Amount Raised: USD 100,000,000
- Date: October 2021
- Lead Investors: Bond
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To scale go-to-market functions and advance ocean intelligence products.
- Series C Round
- Amount Raised: USD 60,000,000
- Date: May 2025
- Lead Investors: Export and Investment Fund
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand technological capabilities and market reach.
- Corporate Round
- Amount Raised: USD 50,000,000
- Date: October 2025
- Lead Investors: Lockheed Martin
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To enhance defense-related maritime solutions.
Total Amount Raised: USD 299,500,000. Current Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Key Investors
- Lockheed Martin
- Details: Lockheed Martin is a global aerospace, defense, and security company. It is one of the largest defense contractors in the world.
- Investment Focus Areas: Aerospace, defense, security, advanced technologies
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
- Bond
- Details: Bond is a venture capital firm that focuses on technology and innovation-driven companies. It led Saildrone's $100 million Series C funding round.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, consumer internet, enterprise software
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
- Google.org
- Details: Google.org is the charitable arm of Google, focusing on using technology to address global challenges. It supports initiatives in education, economic opportunity, and crisis response.
- Investment Focus Areas: Education, economic opportunity, crisis response
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
- Horizons Ventures
- Details: Horizons Ventures is a private investment firm based in Hong Kong. It focuses on disruptive and technology-driven companies.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
- Social Capital
- Details: Social Capital is a venture capital firm that aims to solve the world's hardest problems by investing in technology and innovation. It participated in Saildrone's Series A funding round.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, education
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
What's Next for Saildrone?
Saildrone stands at the cusp of significant growth, driven by the expanding global unmanned surface vehicle market. With a projected market value of $1.3 billion by 2028, the opportunities for Saildrone are vast. The company is poised to enhance its ocean intelligence products and expand its fleet, addressing the increasing demand for maritime surveillance, ocean mapping, and climate data collection.
Future fundraising opportunities appear promising as Saildrone continues to scale its go-to-market functions and invest in advanced technologies. The recent $100 million Series C funding round underscores investor confidence and sets the stage for potential future rounds to support further expansion and technological advancements.
However, challenges such as navigating regulatory landscapes, ensuring technological reliability, and facing competition in the USV market remain. Overcoming these hurdles will be crucial for Saildrone as it aims to solidify its position as a leader in maritime autonomy and environmental monitoring.
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