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A Puglia-based startup founded by the man behind aircraft manufacturer Blackshape has closed an early stage to build software-defined ships and marine artificial intelligence. The ocean is the last major physical environment not yet controlled by software.
Mirai Robotics, a startup headquartered in Puglia, southern Italy, wants to change that. The company has closed a €3.9 million (~$4.2 million) pre-seed round to develop an autonomous surface vessel and maritime reconnaissance platform designed to operate unmanned continuously on land and in marine environments.
The round was led by Primo Ventures, Techshop and 40Jemz Ventures with the participation of Italian and international angel investors.
Commenting on the deal, Gianluca Dettori, Chairman and General Partner, Primo Ventures is an Italian early-stage VC firm that manages approximately €438 million in digital, space, healthcare and climate technology funds. It is one of the most active seed stage investors in Italy.
What does Mirai build?
At the core of the Mirai platform are software-defined autonomous ground vehicles designed for what the company calls dock-to-dock autonomy: the ability to complete missions without human intervention from departure to return. The ships combine advanced sensing systems, autonomous navigation, remote control instruments and built-in layers of security.
The company has already developed two autonomous vehicles that operate either as independent units or in coordinated fleets for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and maritime patrol missions.
In addition to its own equipment, Mirai is also developing modular autonomy and control systems that can be integrated into third-party vessels, meaning shipyards, industrial operators and government agencies can adopt autonomous technology without retiring existing fleets.
At the heart of both is a dedicated maritime intelligence and mission management platform that provides what Mirai describes as continuous domain awareness: the ability to monitor the maritime environment, coordinate robotic assets, and maintain operational control in complex environments over long periods of time.
“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures that is not yet controlled by software,” said Mirai CEO Luciano Belviso. “Autonomy is ultimately the key to making the oceans safe and usable, unlocking enormous resources and solving critical security challenges. But it must be achieved through systems that can operate sustainably and safely in extreme environments. This is a technological and industrial challenge that requires a true robotics-laboratory approach.”
Founders
The three co-founders bring unusually diverse credentials for an early-stage robotics startup. Belviso founded Blackshape Aircraft in Puglia in 2009, a carbon fiber aircraft manufacturer that produces high-performance two-seater aircraft for both the recreational and military training markets and today is part of the Angel industrial holding group.
He holds degrees in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and space law, including from Polytechnic of Turin, EPFL in Lausanne and University of Paris XI.
Luca Mascaro is the founder and president of the Swiss-based strategic design studio Sketchin, part of BIP Group, an Italian management consulting firm, after the majority acquisition in 2016. Following the deal, Mascaro remained at Sketchin as Founder and President. At Mirai, he brings experience building technology-focused service businesses across Europe.
Davide Dattoli is the founder and CEO of Talent Garden, one of Europe’s largest education and technology community networks, operating in 12 markets and training around 25,000 professionals annually. He has been recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list and is a venture founder of the Italian Founders Fund.
Market context
The strategic logic of maritime autonomy is not difficult to find. Europe’s blue economy, the range of economic sectors that depend on or interact with the sea, including shipping, fishing, marine energy and port operations, is worth more than €750 billion annually, according to European Commission figures.
It also faces complex pressures: rising operating costs, an accelerating workforce crisis as experienced offshore professionals retire, and a growing need for ongoing monitoring of infrastructure, including submarine cables, offshore wind farms and energy platforms.
The angle of dual use is also important. Autonomous ships for patrol and ISR missions lie at the intersection of civilian maritime operations and defense technology, a sector that is attracting an increasing share of European venture capital as governments across the continent increase defense budgets and seek sovereign capabilities in monitoring critical infrastructure.
Mirai is located in Puglia, which the founders describe as the ideal location for their ambitions, at the crossroads of Mediterranean maritime activity, industrial manufacturing heritage and academic research institutes.
The company says the funding will accelerate its technology stack, expand its engineering team and support pilot deployments with industry and institutional partners.
“The marine sector is at an inflection point,” said Dettori of Primo Ventures. “We are still looking at a huge economy based on operating models that were developed decades ago.
The human capital gap alone, thousands of unfilled roles, an aging workforce and increased operational risk make the status quo unsustainable. It’s not just automation that Mirai Robotics is building; it is the key infrastructure layer that will enable the safe and efficient expansion of the blue economy.”
