Exclusive: Seasats secures $10 million amid unmanned tech boom
Drone-boat maker Seasats plans to hire more people and expand its overseas sales on the heels of a $10 million funding round.
Why it matters: From monitoring U.S. borders to mapping oil spills to sinking Russian ships in the Black Sea, demand for autonomous vessels is soaring.
Follow the money: The round was led by Silicon Valley's Shield Capital, specializing in dual-use tech. Aero X Ventures, Techstars, and other investors participated.
L3Harris Technologies previously invested in the San Diego-based company.
Seasats started as a commercial company. But its defense business is ramping up as militaries are increasingly interested in ready-to-go gear, not sluggish research and development.
The latest: A Seasats Lightfish vessel — solar-powered, 11 feet long and weighing about 350 pounds — is making its way to Japan right now.
You can track its progress (video feed included) on the company's website.
A California-to-Hawaii voyage was completed last year.
Fun fact: Small drones launched off Seasats' boats during testing in San Diego Bay.
The bottom line: "This stuff is reliable — it works," Seasats CEO Mike Flanigan told Axios on the sidelines of the WEST naval conference. "Buy it. Use it."
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