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Italy’s Mirai Robotics Raises $4.2M in Pre-Seed Funding for Autonomous Maritime Robotics Systems

Founders Luciano Belviso (CEO), Luca Mascaro (Credit: Mirai Robotics)

Insider Brief

  • Mirai Robotics has emerged from stealth with $4.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Primo Capital, Techshop and 40Jemz Ventures to develop autonomous robotic systems for maritime monitoring and operations.
  • The company is building autonomous surface vehicles and control platforms designed for surveillance, patrol and monitoring missions in coastal and offshore environments.
  • Mirai Robotics said its technology aims to improve visibility and safety across the maritime domain while reducing operational costs and reliance on human operators.

Mirai Robotics has emerged from stealth with $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop autonomous robotics systems designed to monitor and secure maritime environments, according to the company. The round was led by Primo Capital, Techshop and 40Jemz Ventures, with participation from Italian and international angel investors.

The company is developing autonomous surface vehicles and related control systems aimed at improving surveillance, monitoring and operational oversight across the maritime domain. Mirai Robotics said the technology is designed to reduce human exposure to hazardous environments while lowering operational costs associated with traditional ship-based monitoring and patrol activities.

“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures not yet governed by software,” CEO Luciano Belviso said in the announcement. “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.”

What Does Mirai Robotics Do?

The launch comes as the global maritime sector faces mounting operational pressures. According to the company, more than 80% of global trade moves by sea, while subsea cables carry roughly 95% of international internet traffic. The company indicated the broader blue economy is valued at more than $2.5 trillion and is expected to exceed $4 trillion by the end of the decade. Despite its economic importance, the sector remains one of the least digitized large-scale infrastructures, with limited real-time visibility and high reliance on human operators.

Mirai Robotics said it is targeting this gap with autonomous systems designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in coastal and offshore environments. The company has developed two autonomous surface vehicles that integrate perception sensors, autonomous navigation systems, remote control capabilities and safety mechanisms. The vehicles can operate individually or as part of distributed fleets.

Beyond its proprietary platforms, the company is also developing autonomy, navigation and control software that can be integrated into third-party vessels, allowing maritime operators to introduce autonomous capabilities without redesigning existing fleets. The systems are intended for both commercial and institutional applications, including maritime monitoring, infrastructure protection and environmental observation.

How Will Mirai Use the Capital?

Mirai Robotics said the capital will be used to accelerate technology development, expand its engineering team and launch pilot programs with industrial and government partners.

The company was founded by Belviso, Luca Mascaro and Davide Dattoli and is headquartered in Puglia in southern Italy. The founders positioned the venture as a robotics-focused engineering lab designed to develop autonomous systems capable of operating in mission-critical maritime environments where reliability, safety and continuous operation are essential.

Image credit: Mirai Robotics

Greg Bock
About the author
Greg Bock

Greg Bock is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than 25 years of experience in print, digital, and broadcast news. His reporting has spanned crime, politics, business and technology, earning multiple Keystone Awards and a Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters honors. Through the Associated Press and Nexstar Media Group, his coverage has reached audiences across the United States.

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