Berlin-based maritime technology startup Lazzaro One has raised a six-figure pre-seed funding round from B#, the pre-seed investment fund of IBB Ventures. The company will use the funding to develop its maritime intelligence platform, HUAX, and support its technology and business growth.
Lazzaro One was founded by Arsenio Longo and co-founder Maria Grazia Del Prete. The company develops software that helps improve safety, efficiency and sustainability in the maritime industry.
Its platform combines mathematical models, data analysis and behavioural psychology to help organisations understand vessel movements and identify possible risks. It aims to help businesses and authorities make better decisions about maritime operations.
The maritime industry produces large amounts of data, but finding useful and reliable information can be difficult. Traditional monitoring systems can identify unusual vessel movements, but understanding why a ship is behaving differently often requires further investigation.
Lazzaro One aims to solve this problem through its HUAX platform. The software studies technical data and vessel behaviour to detect unusual activity and provide useful information about potential risks. Instead of simply collecting large amounts of data, it focuses on finding the information that matters for safety and decision-making.
One of HUAX’s key uses is identifying shadow fleets. These are ships that manipulate their tracking systems to avoid sanctions and hide their activities. The platform analyses unusual technical signals and vessel behaviour to help security authorities, shipping companies and insurers identify possible threats. It also provides route forecasts and sea condition analysis to help improve planning, operational efficiency and environmental performance.
“There is no shortage of data in the maritime sector today. The real challenge is understanding which information can be trusted and why a vessel’s behaviour is unusual. Many systems can identify unusual vessel behaviour. But only HUAX can explain clearly why, “says Arsenio Longo.
With the new funding, Lazzaro One plans to expand its Berlin office, which will serve as its main technology development centre. The company also plans to open a Maritime Intelligence Desk in Naples to monitor maritime activities across the Mediterranean region.
The company will also hire more developers, create specialised roles and improve HUAX’s ability to process and analyse data. These steps will help strengthen the platform and support its future growth.
In the coming years, Lazzaro One aims to grow its business in the shipping and defence sectors. It also plans to build more partnerships and attract customers from the maritime and insurance industries.
