Successful fundraising is the latest in a series of investors backing low-cost, autonomous and dual-use technologies this year.
UK maritime autonomy startup Online Oceans has raised a £4 million ($5.4 million) seed round led by Seraphim Space to scale the production of its autonomous surface vessels used for monitoring coastal waters and critical infrastructure.
This latest funding round included participation from SolarCity co-founder Peter Rive, German drone maker Quantum Systems, and Koro Capital, bringing total funding to date to $6.7 million.
The funding will be used to expand manufacturing capacity and support deployments across defence and maritime security markets. According to a spokesperson, Online Oceans had sold out its initial product capacity ahead of its first commercial deliveries in April 2026.
The company is already generating revenue from customers in the UK, Northern Europe and the United States, including multi-vehicle deployments supporting maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine monitoring with European navies and defence contractors.
Founded in 2025 by George Morton and Alistair Douglas, Online Oceans develops low-cost autonomous surface vessels and command-and-control software for persistent maritime surveillance for use in defence, subsea infrastructure monitoring and border security.
Online Oceans said it is in discussions regarding potential deployments in the Gulf for coastal and offshore security missions. The discussions come amid heightened concern over maritime security and infrastructure protection in the region.
“Persistent maritime coverage has been too expensive for too long,” Morton said in a statement. “This funding allows us to scale production and support customers who need a more practical way to monitor critical waters and protect infrastructure.”
“Online Oceans has moved quickly from founding to production ramp and early customer traction,” Maureen Haverty, investment principal at Seraphim Space, said. “We believe the company has the potential to become a global leader in this category.”
The fundraise adds to growing investor interest in lower cost maritime autonomy and infrastructure protection technologies across Europe’s defence sector.