Rome-based Blue Economy startup WSENSE, specialising in underwater monitoring systems and wireless communication networks, has secured €7.2M funding in a pre-Series B round. The funding will accelerate the global expansion of its underwater wireless communication technology.

Investment details

The funding round was led by new investor FINCANTIERI, with participation from existing investors CDP Venture Capital SGR, SWEN Capital Partners, RunwayFBU, Axon Partners Group, and ocean-focused impact fund Rypples.

“This investment is another step forward in our innovation and digitalisation strategy,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, FINCANTIERI CEO and general manager. “The WSENSE technologies open up new possibilities for the monitoring and security of maritime infrastructures and act as key enablers for the advancement of the entire underwater domain.”

Partnership and growth plans

The announcement comes two years after WSENSE raised €11M in Series A funding in 2023, bringing their total raised capital to over €22M since 2022.

FINCANTIERI and WSENSE first teamed up in December 2023 with a formal agreement. Since then, they’ve already had success, winning three projects from Italy’s underwater research centre. These projects aim to develop and implement better ways for devices to communicate underwater.

“With over €22M raised since 2022, WSENSE is now positioned to scale internationally, strengthen our team, and further consolidate our technological leadership in an increasingly competitive market,” said CEO Chiara Petrioli, Full Professor at Sapienza Università di Roma and ocean tech pioneer.

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Technology impact

Founded in 2012 as a spinoff of Sapienza University in Rome, WSENSE provides solutions for underwater technology that allow different underwater sensors and autonomous vehicles to connect wirelessly. This enables real-time monitoring and thorough surveillance of underwater environments. The company’s Internet of Underwater Things solutions have transmitted over 1.6M data points in real-time from 24 different regions in Europe, providing 37 telemetries from the sea bottom and water column.

“FINCANTIERI’s entry into WSENSE’s capital represents a significant acknowledgment of the technological and strategic value of our solutions,” added Petrioli. “This transaction enables us to accelerate our industrial and commercial growth, reinforcing WSENSE’s position as a key player in a sector that is crucial for the country’s security, sustainability, and competitiveness.”

The two companies are actively pursuing additional opportunities at both Italian and European levels and developing joint commercial offerings to foster innovation in the Blue Economy domain.

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