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UK Startup Oshen Raises $5M in Funding for Data Collecting Autonomous Ocean Robotics
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- DeepHorus
UK startup Oshen has secured $5 million in a new funding round to expand the production of its autonomous ocean robots, designed to gather crucial data from remote and challenging parts of the world's oceans. The funding, led by Lunar Ventures, marks a significant milestone for the company, which has rapidly scaled its operations to meet growing demand from major scientific and governmental clients.
Founded in 2022 by Anahita Laverack and Ciaran Dowds, Oshen has developed the C-Star, an uncrewed surface vessel roughly one meter in length. Powered by wind and solar energy, the robot is engineered to remain at sea for over six months, collecting continuous data on weather, ocean conditions, and maritime activity via satellite links.
The company's recent funding round included participation from AlbionVC, Twin Track Ventures, and Concept Ventures. Capital will be used to expand manufacturing capabilities, fulfilling an order backlog of 100 additional units. This follows a dramatic increase in production, which has accelerated from 15 robots over the first three years to a rate of 15 units every six weeks.
Oshen's technology is already deployed by prominent organizations, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Royal Navy, the U.K. Met Office, Météo-France, and CNMOC. The robots are used individually or in swarms to provide persistent monitoring for climate research, maritime security, and infrastructure protection, where traditional ships are often too costly or provide only intermittent coverage.
The company's capabilities gained international attention last year when three C-Star robots successfully entered the eyewall of Category 5 Hurricane Humberto. They transmitted high-frequency measurements every two minutes despite facing 30-foot waves, making them the first uncrewed surface vessels of their size to collect data from inside such a powerful storm.
With this new injection of capital, Oshen is poised to significantly scale its impact on global ocean monitoring. The expansion will support a growing portfolio of clients across research and defense sectors, addressing the critical need for affordable, persistent data collection across vast and remote marine environments. The move underscores the increasing strategic importance of autonomous systems in understanding and securing oceanic domains.
