Berlin-based software startup Kaiko Systems announced the successful closing of a €2 million seed funding round. Several investors are participating in the funding round, including Schoeller Holdings, Vineta Ventures, A Round Capital, Flagship Founders, as well as industry experts such as Clasen Rickmers and Justus Kniffka.
Kaiko Systems was founded in 2020 and helps shipping companies worldwide to digitize onboard operations of frontline workers. With the new capital, the company plans to grow its team, further develop its software solution and expand into new regions.
The company helps global shipping companies to digitize onboard operations of frontline workers, reduce downtime, and increase technical management productivity. The capital infusion will be used to grow its team, further advance its software solution, and expand into new geographies.
Since launching their product in 2021, Kaiko Systems has swiftly won multiple reputable customers such as Columbia Shipmanagement, Marlow Navigation, USC Barnkrug, CTM and The Asian Spirit Steamship Company, contributing to the uptime of hundreds of vessels that keep the global supply chain afloat 24/7. The funding round comes from multiple investors, including Schoeller Holdings, Vineta Ventures, A Round Capital, Flagship Founders as well as industry experts such as Clasen Rickmers and Justus Kniffka.
Schoeller Holdings is the company behind one of the most respected ship management companies in the world, Columbia Shipmanagement. “We benefit tremendously from the deep expertise of Schoeller Holdings that will further support our mission of contributing to a safer, smarter, more collaborative maritime industry,” says Fabian Fussek, Co-Founder and CEO of Kaiko Systems. Despite the fact that 90% of traded goods are transported via the oceans, most technical operations are still based on paper and Excel. This leads to inefficient operations, heavy workloads, and high rates of human error that contribute to ca. 75% of incidents at sea.
Kaiko Systems has developed a mobile-first app that streamlines technical operations such as maintenance and inspections for ship crews. This improves quality, enables data to be collected on the job, and reduces time spent on manual tasks. In addition, its online dashboard serves as the shore team’s virtual assistant. It automatically verifies the plausibility of data, and generates fleet-wide vessel health analytics.
The dynamic dashboard allows shore teams to instantly identify risks and prioritize tasks. In this way, reaction time to findings is cut, downtime is reduced, and maintenance plans and costs are optimized. “Maritime shipping is the backbone of the global supply chains, but for various reasons only at the beginning of digitization. We have a unique opportunity here to play a significant role in shaping the future of this industry,” says Fabian Fussek. “I am particularly pleased that