Delft-based Flying Fish secures investment from Volvo Group’s subsidiary to drive clean and smart shipping

Delft-based Flying Fish Maritime Innovations BV, a Dutch company working toward sustainable shipping through zero-emission fleet operations, has received a minority investment from CPAC Systems AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group.

Sweden’s CPAC Systems develops embedded control and automation systems for the marine, construction, agriculture, and commercial vehicle sectors. It works in areas including electromobility, autonomous driving, and situational awareness.

The investment initiates a strategic partnership focused on increasing sales, advancing product development, scaling production, and expanding the team.

Marcus Wingolf, CEO of CPAC Systems, says, “We’re proud to join forces with Flying Fish, a company pushing the boundaries of marine mobility. This investment reflects a strong synergy between our technological strengths and shared drive for sustainable innovation.”

“Together, we see great potential to shape the future of connected and intelligent marine transport.”

Advancing innovation in maritime operations

Founded in 2018 by Gijsbert Van Marrewijk, Gerben Schonebaum and Olivier Prakken, Flying Fish develops integrated software and hardware systems for water mobility. 

The company focuses on enabling zero-emission and shared marine operations through hydrofoil technology, modular electric drivelines, and fleet management algorithms. Its solutions support the transition to efficient and emission-free water transport.

Speaking about the latest development, co-founder & CEO, Gerben Schonebaum, says, “We are excited to take this next step in our partnership with CPAC Systems. The collaboration is based on a shared set of values, a forward-thinking mindset, and a common ambition.”

“CPAC Systems brings long-time experience in scaling technology and enables us to access strong sales channels, which will help accelerate the reach and impact of our innovations. This new partnership also opens up new opportunities to support the growth of our talented team of engineers.”

How was Flying Fish born?

Flying Fish Maritime Innovations BV’s roots trace back to 2013 when future co-founders joined the TU Delft Solar Boat Team. Over several years, they worked on developing hydrofoiling solar boats, improving control systems, and building expertise in water mobility technologies. 

Key milestones included winning a design award in 2013, achieving high performance with hydrofoil systems in 2015, and receiving the International Mandles Prize for Hydrofoil Excellence in 2017.

In 2018, the team began collaborating with Watertaxi Rotterdam, creating a data-driven operations system. That same year, they won the Dutch Maritime Designer Award for their hydrofoil concept. 

In early 2019, Flying Fish officially launched, formed by a group of engineers with shared experience and a focus on developing software and hardware for efficient and zero-emission marine operations. Their first product delivery was a data system for Watertaxi Rotterdam.