Bengaluru/Mumbai: Clear Robotics, a made-in-India maritime technology company, has announced the successful closure of a $1.75 million Pre-Series A funding round aimed at scaling its commercially proven fleet of AI-enabled autonomous vessels across global markets.
The funding marks a significant milestone for Clear Robotics as it advances its vision of building the world’s largest fleet of zero-emission autonomous ships.
The investment round was led by Shipsfocus Ventures, a venture firm focused on the maritime sector, and includes substantial follow-on investments from Katapult Ocean, SGInnovate, M7 Holdings, MGS Ventures, and other strategic partners.
The participation of these investors reflects growing confidence in the commercial potential and technological capabilities of Clear Robotics.
Clear Robotics currently operates a fleet of 26 all-electric, AI-optimized unmanned surface vessels (USVs) designed to address critical maritime infrastructure challenges.
Through the use of artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation and advanced data analytics, Clear Robotics enables highly efficient maritime operations without the need for manual intervention.
The newly raised capital will support Clear Robotics in accelerating its strategic expansion across Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.
The company plans to utilize the funds to develop larger classes of unmanned vessels, enhance research and development efforts for automated port surveying, and scale its proprietary commercial retrofit technology.
These initiatives are expected to prepare Clear Robotics for future open-ocean operations.
Also Read: Estro Tech Robotics Raises ₹1 Crore Seed Funding Led by Genrobotics
Over the years, Clear Robotics has established a strong reputation in the maritime technology sector through a series of achievements and market expansions.
The company won the Pier71 Smart Port Challenge in 2024 and the Captain’s Table competition in 2022. During the past year, the company has expanded its footprint into key maritime markets including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Its growing presence in the Philippines recently gained visibility when President Marcos launched the company’s pilot vessels during a major waterfront inauguration project, highlighting the increasing adoption of autonomous maritime technologies in the region.
Commenting on the funding round, Sidhant Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Clear Robotics, said: “This funding is a critical catalyst, accelerating our path toward becoming a comprehensive solution for operations and creating the world’s largest fleet of unmanned ships.”
Utkarsh Goel, Co-Founder and CTO of Clear Robotics, added: “This new capital allows us to expand our engineering team, accelerate our R&D into automated port surveying, and build the next generation of larger vessel classes.”
Sharing the investment rationale behind the funding round, Chye Poh Chua, Managing Partner at Shipsfocus Ventures, said: “Clear Robotics is building a reliable, scalable operating system for the essential middle of the maritime sector.
Sidhant and his team prioritize practical deployment over lab demos, iterating in real-world conditions. Execution is their true moat, and we led this round because they are building the infrastructure for the next era of maritime work.”
About Clear Robotics
Founded in 2020 by Sidhant Gupta and Utkarsh Goel, Clear Robotics is a made-in-India maritime technology company focused on developing integrated all-electric unmanned vessel technology and autonomous retrofit solutions.
The company provides autonomous and zero-emission solutions for critical infrastructure applications, including pollution recovery and marine surveillance, while also advancing AI-driven surveying technologies.
Through its innovations, the startup aims to make autonomous shipping safer, more sustainable, and commercially viable.
