Maritime Tech Startup AndrenaM Raises $10 Million for Underwater Surveillance Technology
AndrenaM, a maritime tech startup founded by Matej Cernosek and Alex Chu, has secured $10 million in seed funding to develop its underwater surveillance technology. The company uses artificial intelligence to analyze sonar data, aiming to modernize the century-old technology used to detect underwater targets.
The startup’s software processes data from underwater microphones, or hydrophones, to provide real-time insights. This technology has the potential to revolutionize underwater surveillance, a field that has seen little innovation in decades. “Our vision is to secure the oceans,” said Cernosek, AndrenaM’s CEO. “We’re building a distributed sensing network — a sonar mesh.”
AndrenaM’s funding was raised in just 36 hours, a testament to investor enthusiasm for defense tech startups. First Round Capital led the round, with participation from Also Capital, Long Journey, Homebrew, and the Colorado School of Mines Venture Fund. The company plans to use the funds to double its team to 16 employees and develop its own hardware, including buoys equipped with hydrophones.
Currently, AndrenaM is using off-the-shelf hydrophones but plans to vertically integrate its solution to reduce costs and improve its AI algorithms. The company’s technology has both defense and commercial applications, including port security. Meka Asonye, a partner at First Round Capital, was impressed by AndrenaM’s progress, noting that the team is already deploying its technology off the coast of California.
Cernosek’s personal background as the son of immigrants from the Czech Republic has driven his motivation to build a company that contributes to national security. “We live in the best country in the world, and this country has done very well for my family,” he said. “I want to build a generational company that will have a massive impact for the United States.”
