European robotics startup Mirai Robotics has secured $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop autonomous vessels and intelligence systems for maritime operations. The round was led by Primo Ventures, Techshop and 40Jemz Ventures, with participation from several Italian and international angel investors.
The funding is among the largest early-stage robotics rounds in Italy. It will accelerate the development of Mirai’s technology stack, expand its engineering team and support pilot deployments with industrial and institutional partners.
Why does the sea still run on outdated systems?
Oceans carry the backbone of the global economy. More than 80% of world trade moves across maritime routes, while Europe relies on sea transport for over 90% of its foreign trade. Even the internet depends on the ocean, with roughly 95% of global data traffic flowing through subsea cables.
Yet despite its central role, the maritime domain remains one of the least digitised environments. Operations are expensive, visibility across vast ocean spaces is limited, and safety often depends on human operators working in demanding conditions.
The industry is also facing a structural workforce challenge. Thousands of operational roles are becoming harder to fill as experienced captains and maritime specialists retire, leaving a widening gap in expertise. Maintaining constant monitoring and safe operations using a fully human-centric model is becoming increasingly difficult.
Mirai Robotics was founded to rethink this equation by introducing robotics and intelligent autonomy into maritime infrastructure.
Autonomous vessels built for real maritime missions
At the core of Mirai’s technology are software-defined autonomous vessels designed to operate continuously in real sea conditions. These platforms combine advanced sensing systems, autonomous navigation capabilities, remote supervision tools and built-in safety layers.
The company has already developed two autonomous vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as well as maritime patrol. These systems are designed for both coastal and offshore operations, and can operate as independent units or within coordinated fleets.
Mirai’s technology goes beyond hardware. The company has built a proprietary maritime intelligence and mission management platform that enables persistent domain awareness and supervised autonomy across inshore-to-offshore missions.
The platform allows operators to monitor maritime environments, coordinate robotic assets and maintain control over uncrewed operations in complex conditions.
Alongside its own robotic platforms, Mirai also develops modular autonomy and control systems that can be integrated into third-party vessels. This means shipyards, industrial operators and public institutions can adopt autonomous technologies without replacing their existing fleets.
Built in Italy to serve a global maritime future
Mirai Robotics was founded by Luciano Belviso, Luca Mascaro and Davide Dattoli. Belviso previously built and led complex industrial businesses, including the aircraft manufacturer Blackshape, which was later acquired by Angel Holding. Mascaro is a technology entrepreneur and founder of Sketchin, which was acquired by BIP Group, where he later served as Chief Innovation Officer. Dattoli founded Talent Garden and has long supported technology and education ventures across Europe.
Around the founders, the company has assembled a pan-European team of engineers and researchers specialising in robotics, AI, and mission-critical systems, working closely with universities and research institutions.
Headquartered in Puglia, Italy, Mirai sits at the intersection of Mediterranean maritime activity, industrial expertise and academic research. The founders see the location as an ideal base for developing Europe’s next centre of excellence in maritime autonomy.
“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures not yet governed by software,” says Luciano Belviso, CEO of Mirai Robotics. “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.”
“The maritime domain is at an inflexion 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, ageing 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 calibre of robotics and AI talent creates a genuinely unique opportunity,” adds Gianluca Dettori, Partner at Primo Capital, lead investor in the round.
