.png)
Total amount raised
$375M
Latest funding date
2025-10-29
Location
Saildrone has successfully raised significant funding over 8 rounds, with notable investments from Lockheed Martin and Academy Securities. The company is advancing unmanned surface vehicle capabilities, particularly for defense missions.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Saildrone's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative maritime platform.
Saildrone has raised funding across multiple rounds backed by investors including BOND, EIFO, Lockheed Martin, Horizons Ventures, Lux Capital, and Social Capital.
Keep reading to explore Saildrone's full fundraising journey, key backers, and what's next for this maritime autonomy leader.
What Is Saildrone?
Saildrone is a California-based company and global leader in maritime autonomy, developing wind- and solar-powered unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that collect ocean data for defense, climate science, and maritime intelligence applications. Founded in 2012 by Richard Jenkins, Saildrone's autonomous systems have been deployed by organizations such as NOAA, NASA, and the Danish Armed Forces.
How Much Funding Has Saildrone Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: ~USD 2,500,000
- Date: December 2015
- Lead Investors: Undisclosed
- Participants: The Schmidt Family Foundation (mission-related investment)
- Series A
- Amount Raised: USD 14,000,000
- Date: September 5, 2016
- Lead Investors: Social Capital
- Participants: Capricorn Investment Group, Lux Capital, The Schmidt Family Foundation
- Series A-1
- Amount Raised: USD 12,000,000
- Date: February 2017
- Lead Investors: Undisclosed
- Series B
- Amount Raised: USD 60,000,000
- Date: May 15, 2018
- Lead Investors: Horizons Ventures
- Participants: Capricorn's Technology Impact Fund, Lux Capital, Social Capital, The Schmidt Family Foundation
- Grant
- Amount Raised: ~USD 1,200,000
- Date: April 2021
- Lead Investors: Google.org (Impact Challenge on Climate)
- Series C
- Amount Raised: USD 100,000,000
- Date: October 18, 2021
- Lead Investors: BOND (Noah Knauf, General Partner)
- Participants: XN, Standard Investments, Emerson Collective, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Capricorn's Technology Impact Fund, Lux Capital, Social Capital, Tribe Capital
- Series C-1
- Amount Raised: USD 75,000,000
- Date: 2024
- Lead Investors: Undisclosed
- Post-Money Valuation: ~USD 575,000,000
- Series C (Extension / New Round)
- Amount Raised: USD 60,000,000
- Date: May 13, 2025
- Lead Investors: EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark)
- Participants: Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, Academy Securities, Pinegrove
- Corporate Round
- Amount Raised: USD 50,000,000
- Date: October 29, 2025
- Lead Investors: Lockheed Martin
Total Amount Raised: At least $374.7M based on disclosed funding across all rounds.
Key Investors
- Lockheed Martin
- Details: Lead investor in the October 2025 Corporate Round ($50M strategic investment). The partnership aims to integrate Lockheed Martin's defense systems — including the JAGM Quad Launcher — onto Saildrone's Surveyor USV platform for U.S. Navy applications.
- EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark)
- Details: Lead investor in the May 2025 $60M round. The investment enabled Saildrone to establish a European headquarters in Copenhagen and deploy Voyager USVs in the Baltic Sea under contract with the Danish Armed Forces.
- BOND
- Details: Led the October 2021 $100M Series C at a ~$600M post-money valuation. General Partner Noah Knauf joined Saildrone's Board of Directors as part of the investment.
- Horizons Ventures
- Details: Lead investor in the May 2018 $60M Series B, helping Saildrone scale its global fleet of ocean drones and accelerate international expansion.
- Lux Capital
- Details: Long-standing investor participating in Series A (2016), Series B (2018), Series C (2021), and the 2025 round. One of Saildrone's most consistent backers.
- Social Capital
- Details: Led the September 2016 $14M Series A. Also participated in subsequent Series B and Series C rounds.
What's Next for Saildrone?
Saildrone is positioned to expand its presence in both the defense and climate science markets. With strategic investment from Lockheed Martin and a growing footprint in European maritime security through its Copenhagen headquarters, Saildrone is scaling its autonomous surface vehicle capabilities for both commercial and military applications. The company's technology is already deployed with the Danish Armed Forces and continues to be used by U.S. government agencies including NOAA and NASA.
Use Clay to Get Funding Data
Sales professionals, leverage Clay's platform to access comprehensive fundraising data like Saildrone's and discover which companies have recently closed funding rounds. Sign up for free today.
