Mirai Robotics, a European AI robotics lab developing autonomous vehicles and systems for complex maritime operations, has raised $4.2 million in a pre-seed funding round to accelerate the development of autonomous and intelligent maritime systems.
Headquartered in Puglia, Italy, Mirai Robotics aims to build robotic infrastructure that can improve safety, observability, and operational efficiency across the global maritime ecosystem.
The funding round marks one of the largest pre-seed investments in Italy’s robotics and deep-tech sector and was led by Primo Capital, Techshop, and 40Jemz Ventures, with participation from several Italian and international angel investors.
The capital will enable Mirai Robotics to expand its technology development, strengthen its team, and launch new pilot projects with industrial and institutional partners.
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Maritime Infrastructure and the Need for Autonomy
The maritime sector plays a vital role in the global economy. More than 80% of global trade moves by sea, while over 90% of Europe’s foreign trade relies on maritime routes.
Additionally, approximately 95% of international internet traffic flows through subsea cables. The global blue economy, currently valued at more than $2.5 trillion, is projected to exceed $4 trillion by 2030.
Despite its strategic importance, the maritime domain remains one of the least digitized and most operationally complex environments. High operational costs, limited continuous observability, and exposure to risks continue to challenge maritime operations.
At the same time, the industry faces a growing shortage of qualified professionals, with thousands of operational roles remaining unfilled and the average age of captains and operators steadily rising.
Against this backdrop, Mirai Robotics was established to address these challenges by creating autonomous systems designed for continuous, safe, and scalable maritime operations.
Autonomous Systems for Maritime Operations
The technology developed by Mirai Robotics integrates autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced sensing, and control systems to enable persistent surveillance, patrolling, monitoring, and operational control at sea.
By reducing reliance on human operators in high-risk environments, Mirai Robotics aims to lower operational costs while improving safety and efficiency.
The company has already developed two autonomous vehicles tailored for different operational requirements. These vehicles are designed primarily for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and maritime patrolling missions in both coastal and offshore environments.
Each system integrates advanced perception technologies, autonomous navigation capabilities, remote control functionality, and built-in safety mechanisms. The vehicles can operate either as standalone platforms or as part of distributed autonomous systems, allowing coordinated maritime operations.
In addition to its proprietary platforms, Mirai Robotics also develops autonomy, navigation, and control technologies that can be integrated into third-party vehicles. This approach enables industrial and institutional operators to adopt autonomous capabilities without redesigning their existing fleets.
By designing its technologies with a dual-use framework, Mirai Robotics aims to support both civilian and institutional maritime applications, expanding the potential impact of its robotics and AI solutions.
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Strategic Roots in Italy’s Maritime and Engineering Ecosystem
The decision to establish Mirai Robotics in Italy reflects the country’s longstanding leadership in shipbuilding and maritime engineering. Italy has internationally recognized expertise across sectors including defense, yachting, offshore operations, and marine infrastructure.
Mirai Robotics was created at the intersection of this industrial heritage and a new generation of technologies powered by advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.
Positioning itself as an AI robotics lab rather than a vertical solution provider, Mirai Robotics focuses on developing physical autonomy technologies capable of operating in extreme and mission-critical environments, where reliability, safety, and control are essential.
Mirai Robotics: Founding Team and Leadership
Mirai Robotics was founded by Luciano Belviso (CEO), Luca Mascaro, and Davide Dattoli, who also serves as a board member.
Luciano Belviso previously built and led complex industrial companies, including Blackshape, a recognized player in aircraft design and manufacturing that was later acquired by Angel Holding.
Luca Mascaro is an entrepreneur and technological designer who founded Sketchin, a design and innovation firm later acquired by the BIP Group, where he served as Chief Innovation Officer.
Davide Dattoli is the founder of Talent Garden and an investor in the European technology and education ecosystem, with experience scaling innovative companies across the region.
Around the founding team, Mirai Robotics has assembled a pan-European team of experts specializing in artificial intelligence, robotics, complex systems, and mission-critical operations, working in collaboration with leading universities and research centers.
Building a European Hub for Maritime Autonomy
The company’s headquarters in Puglia was chosen strategically as a hub connecting Mediterranean maritime routes, industry, and research institutions. Through this location, Mirai Robotics aims to build a European center of excellence for maritime autonomy technologies.
The newly secured capital will help Mirai Robotics accelerate its roadmap for autonomous maritime platforms and expand partnerships with industrial operators and institutional stakeholders working in maritime security, monitoring, and infrastructure protection.
Luciano Belviso, CEO of Mirai Robotics, said: “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.”
Gianluca Dettori, Partner at Primo Capital, the lead investor in the round, added: “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.”
