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We spoke with several startups in the YV community, featured in Superyacht News as our predicted “Ones to Watch” for 2023 and 2024, to reflect on their recent business experiences, share lessons learned, and discuss their future projections.
In recent years, VoltSafe’s shore power pedestal and energy management dashboard have received consistent enthusiasm among marina operators.
Speaking on their biggest achievements, CEO and Co-Founder Trevor Burgess reflects that: “I think our biggest surprise has been just how consistent the reactions have been across marina operators around the world. We hear reactions such as, “Where have you guys been all my life?””
Trevor also shared that early challenges were an opportunity for growth: “Launching our pilot project was full of challenges that we viewed as opportunities to make the product and our dashboard better. Listening to real marina operators and users of the product allowed us to refine the hardware and the software prior to launching to the public.”
Looking ahead, the company is focusing on scalability: “We dream of six billion people connecting to power with VoltSafe technology—simplifying and securing electricity use globally.” comments Trevor.
C.technology’s success lies in forging partnerships with industry leaders like Torqeedo and Frauscher, and the debut of their AI-powered “talk to your vehicle” feature.
Co-founder and CEO Christian Fehr commented on the past few years stating: “Our biggest achievement has been establishing c.technology as a trusted partner for OEMs in the maritime and overland vehicle sectors.”
“The hardest lesson has been understanding and navigating the long lead times required to onboard OEMs. This has taught us to be patient and plan more strategically.”
“Moving forward, we’ll continue to emphasize customer-centric innovation, optimize our onboarding processes, and align more closely with OEMs’ strategic goals.”
Yacht management software company Aquator Marine celebrated a leap forward in software development, launching new modules in the last few years that cater to a diverse user base.
Founder and CEO Gerben Visser reflects: “What surprised me most was the progress in the industry’s openness and collaborative attitude. Traditionally, the yachting sector is viewed as conservative, but stakeholders have demonstrated a willingness to adopt innovative technologies and provide valuable feedback.”
As for lessons learnt: “The hardest lesson we faced was realising the challenges of balancing growth with focus. Spreading ourselves too thin risked diluting the value of our core offerings and straining our resources.”
Moving forward, Gerben states that, “We aim not only to meet the needs of the industry but to anticipate them, ensuring that Aquator Marine remains at the forefront of driving meaningful change.”
Yacht management software platform Wolfgang Pro reported significant growth in the past few years, with new users joining the platform. Co-founder Matthias Du Verle comments: “This growth allowed us to kickstart the new phase of our project which is the environmental management for yachts and marinas.”
“We can now invest massively in R&D to reduce the impact of yachting and set a real example for the industry.”
Reflecting on lessons, Matthias said: “Take no shortcuts. Streamlining processes has made us resilient and improved customer satisfaction.”
Building customer trust and reputation building remain their cornerstone strategies as they scale and invest in impactful technologies.
For marina management software startup Metarina, internal growth and external success have defined the past few years. Henry Hooper, CEO & Co-Founder comments:
“It’s been incredible to watch us grow from a startup project into what feels like a well oiled, self-sufficient business organism. Also, seeing our product gain real commercial traction along the way has been both exciting and deeply rewarding”
“The hardest lesson was realising not everything is in our control,” Henry shared.
“Act fast, adapt faster that’s what I’d remind myself moving forward”
Recognition has been pivotal for crew certification and management software company Crewdentials. In recent years they have received accolades such as being named among the top 50 innovative maritime startups.
As for lessons learnt, Co-Founder Dan Armsden comments: “We have been fortunate to be presented with a number of exciting leads and opportunities, which can and did absorb a huge amount of time. We’ve learnt to manage our time better whilst still exploring exciting leads.”
In the future, Dan and his team will place an emphasis on personal wellness: “Going for a run or ride is a great way to clear the head and make sense of it all.”
Charter Itinerary has grown their itinerary platform to a full charter management platform in the past two years, “[Our platform] is now helping brokers, central agents and captains streamline the entire charter process from enquiry to disembarkation. This evolution reflects the industry’s needs and our ability to adapt and innovate” said CEO Boris De Bel
Boris comments that key challenges have been blocking out external noise “In such a tight-knit industry, opinions and feedback can spread quickly. We’ve refocused on our mission, trusting our expertise and vision while staying open to constructive input.”
The team now remains focused on “delivering the best solutions for brokers and captains, building long-term relationships, and continuing to set the standard for innovation in the industry.”
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