Netherlands-based AyeAye Systems, a maritime startup, announced on Wednesday, June 14, that it has secured a convertible loan of €200K from the Innovation Fund North Holland.
In a company statement translated from Dutch, Wouter Keij, fund manager at Innovation Fund Noord-Holland, says, “Digitisation is still lagging behind on the water. An important reason is incompatibility of the various maritime hardware providers.”
“AyeAye Systems develops a vendor-independent hardware/software solution with which different maritime systems can be integrated into 1 system. The AyeAye hardware platform makes it possible to develop new applications that can, for example, increase safety on the water,” says Keij.
Capital utilisation
AyeAye Systems is creating an all-in-one boat system called AyeAye that can take the place of more than 20 different boat systems that sailors require. The device can also be connected to a wide variety of current boat products.
The Noord-Holland Innovation Fund grant will be used to further develop the boat system and test it in a suitable setting.
Support from METIP
According to AyeAye Systems, one of its important partners is METIP (Maritime Emerging Technologies Innovation Park) in Den Helder (Netherlands). They support AyeAye Systems with a financial contribution, housing, coaching and access to a network of maritime organisations.
METIP is part of the RegioDeal and was created in close collaboration with companies, schools, Development Company North Holland North, the municipality of Den Helder, De Kop Werken, the province of North Holland and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Paul Verbruggen, programme manager at METIP, says, “It is great to see how the startup AyeAye Systems develops their product on METIP and goes from an initial idea to a prototype that will also be used in practice. We at METIP are happy about this to make a supportive and stimulating contribution.”
The AyeAye boat system
Founded and run by sailors for sailors, AyeAye Systems is a marine startup. The founders, Jamos Tan and Leonie Tan, aim to improve access to, use of, and connectivity for sailing yachts through their personal struggles in outfitting a used sailboat.
The complete hardware and software solution that sprang from this need is the AyeAye boot system.
The hardware and software combination includes, among other things, sensors, autopilot control, navigational software, digital switching, and remote monitoring.
AyeAye focuses on simple installation and usage in addition to providing boat owners with a wide range of features. The technology is portable and can be used, for instance, with a smartphone or tablet.
Jamos Tan says, “While smart systems are gaining ground everywhere, the maritime sector is still lagging behind. The technology is outdated, people are tied to certain brands and have to be able to technically maintain many different products that scares people off.”
Leonie Tan adds, “We also see the big problem that there are many boats that are no longer used because it is too expensive and complicated to equip them with modern equipment. There are now some smarter navigation apps for boat owners, but a modern and intuitive hardware and software combination that is all-encompassing is missing.”
“We want to give a new impulse to the recreational sector on the water. In addition, we hope to make a small contribution to a sustainable future with AyeAye Systems, for example by stimulating sailing.”
About Innovation Fund North Holland
The North Holland Innovation Fund is a collaboration between the Province of North Holland, the University of Amsterdam, the Free University of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Amsterdam UMC, and Sanquin.
By granting convertible loans, the Fund assists entrepreneurs in the province of North Holland in financing innovation during the Proof-of-Concept phase.
The Noord-Holland Innovation Fund maintains two funds: one for innovative entrepreneurs funded by the RVO and one for academic entrepreneurs financed by the ERDF.