Denmark-based venture builder Rainmaking has launched an advisory network, called Ocean Ventures Alliance, which seeks to accelerate the growth of maritime startups in Southeast Asia.
The network will include an alliance of industry leaders, such as Chakib Abi Saab (CTO, Bahri), Jan Holm (MD, Maersk Drilling Singapore), Jakob Bergholdt (EVP, Toll Forwarding Group), Jesper Thomsen (Former VP, Maersk Line) and more.
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The goal is to help startups with technology development in areas, such as shipping, supply chain and decarbonisation, while providing them access to the maritime transport world.
In each quarter, Rainmaking will also host a summit to gather C-level advisors and corporates from Ocean Ventures Alliance to discuss innovation opportunities in the maritime sector.
Furthermore, it will serve as a platform for startups to connect with corporates who can provide them with valuable insights to the industry.
“A common issue we see is that startups spend several months of effort developing their ideas and their first iteration of a product, only to find out they are disconnected from the needs of the industry when pitching to a maritime corporate partner,” said Chakib Abi Saab, CTO at Bahri.
“The Ocean Ventures Alliance is the perfect vehicle to remove this the issue because they bring advisory and corporate partners early on the conversations, resulting in startups dedicating their time innovating and re-engineering real industry challenges, which has proven to exponentially increase their chances for success,” Abi Saab added.
This news comes right after Rainmaking’s co-investment partnership with SEEDS Capital’s US$36M scheme for maritime startups.
The scheme is supported by ESG and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to drive the growth of the maritime sector through technology and innovation.
Also Read: Maritime tech startups to get US$36M investment from SEEDS Capital
According to Tan Beng Tee, MPA’s Assistant Chief Executive (Development), maritime technology startups play an even more important role in accelerating digitalisation and innovation efforts to prepare the maritime industry for a new normal post-COVID-19.
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Image Credit: Jonas Tebbe
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