#USA #Boston #Blue Water Autonomy #unmanned ships #GV

Blue Water Autonomy Secures $50 Million in Series A Funding

In an impressive move to bolster the U.S. Navy's autonomous capabilities, Blue Water Autonomy, a Boston-based shipbuilding and technology firm, has successfully raised $50 million in Series A funding, spearheaded by GV (formerly Google Ventures). This funding round saw participation from all existing investors, including Eclipse, Riot, and Impatient Ventures. The cumulative investment now totals $64 million, following a $14 million seed round completed in April 2025.

Focused on Maritime Innovation

The newly acquired capital will enable the company to construct and deploy its first full-sized, long-range autonomous vessel in the upcoming year. The team has expanded significantly since the seed funding, growing fourfold and successfully conducting on-water engineering tests. They have commenced the procurement of essential materials from over 50 carefully selected suppliers.

Rylan Hamilton, CEO of Blue Water Autonomy, emphasized the critical need for ships designed for maritime security and logistics, stating, "This funding provides the necessary resources to build long-range autonomous ships from the keel up, allowing them to operate on the open ocean for months. Our focus on perfecting a single platform ensures unmatched quality and reliability."

Navigating Competitive Waters

The backdrop for this innovation is a challenging competitive environment. China has rapidly outpaced the U.S. in shipbuilding, possessing over 200 times the production capacity. This expansion helps them enhance their naval fleet while the production of U.S. warships remains stagnant. In light of this, Pentagon leaders are fast-tracking plans for autonomous vessels, allocating $2.1 billion from Congress to support medium-sized unmanned surface vessels, similar to those developed by Blue Water Autonomy.

Addressing Diverse Applications

While the primary goal is to address the Navy's needs, Blue Water's leadership sees a significant opportunity in the commercial maritime sector. There exists a vast array of tedious, hazardous, and unsanitary jobs at sea that unmanned ships could effectively tackle.

The company's team is made up of seasoned founders and Navy veterans who possess the requisite knowledge and experience to drive much-needed innovation for the armed forces. Recently, the firm opened a Washington D.C. office and recruited shipbuilding experts who have previously delivered over 30 vessels to the U.S. Navy, including complex destroyers and amphibious ships. The integration of shipbuilding and robotics expertise uniquely positions Blue Water Autonomy to innovate and scale faster and more efficiently.

Leadership Insights

Reflecting on this collaboration, Dave Munichiello, Managing Partner at GV, expressed great confidence in Hamilton's leadership. Having worked closely with him for nearly two decades, he stated, "Rylan possesses a remarkable vision paired with disciplined execution. At Blue Water, he has assembled a world-class team focused on modernizing maritime defense, a mission that is both urgent and significant."

A Vision for the Future

Since its inception in 2024, Blue Water Autonomy has been dedicated to transforming the vision of unmanned ships into reality. Their innovative design combines hardware, software, and AI, allowing their vessels to navigate the open waters autonomously for extended periods. As the technological landscape continues to evolve, Blue Water Autonomy remains committed to developing cutting-edge solutions that will revolutionize U.S. maritime capabilities.

For more details about Blue Water Autonomy and their projects, visit www.blw.ai.