Building and backing maritime technology ventures at the intersection of technological breakthroughs and industry transformation
Advances in AI, clean energy, autonomy and bioengineering are converging with maritime's green transition, digitalisation and changing trade patterns.
A decade of building, operating and investing inside the industry gives ShipsFocus a distinctive perspective on where these forces create opportunities for scalable businesses.
Geopolitical tensions and shifting trade corridors are reshaping global trade. Maritime is no longer simply about moving goods efficiently; it is increasingly central to energy security, national resilience and economic stability. As priorities shift from Just-in-Time efficiency to Just-in-Case preparedness, agility matters as much as cost, and optionality as much as scale.
Outsiders see noise. We see systems — the maritime system of systems, network of networks — and the clarity that comes from understanding how they actually work. We help startups turn that complexity into simplicity: not by oversimplifying, but by understanding deeply enough to make the complex actionable.
Maritime depends on thousands of specialised businesses to keep global trade moving. Yet many remain underserved by technology designed for larger players. We see an opportunity to unlock this overlooked market through ventures that make technology accessible to the long tail.
“That is our vision for startups: delivering history's largest technological transfer — inclusively, to the long tail of maritime micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.”
Breakthroughs in AI, autonomy, clean energy, bioengineering and advanced materials are opening up possibilities across industries. As these technologies advance and intersect, they may unlock maritime applications that are not yet obvious — from smarter operations to new materials that make ships lighter, stronger, more resilient and economical.
Maritime is undergoing profound change. Digitalisation is reshaping operations, decarbonisation is changing how ships are powered and designed, and talent constraints are challenging traditional ways of working. As shipping gains strategic importance amid geopolitical competition and economic uncertainty, these shifts are creating new opportunities for ventures that can help the industry adapt.
We believe the greatest opportunities lie where technological breakthroughs meet the maritime industry's changing needs. We look for possibilities others may overlook, connecting developments across industries with real-world maritime challenges. Working with innovators, we turn these possibilities into ventures positioned to ride the waves of change.
Helping them breakthrough, grow, and achieve their big goals
We know what it takes to make technology work in maritime — not because we studied it, but because we lived it. We've built solutions, struggled through adoption, and learned what separates pilots from real operational impact.
Our network is real — but we don't do the heavy lifting for you. We open doors, you walk through them. We make introductions, you build the relationships. We create the context, you close the deals.
Our capital understands the industry's rhythms — unique sales cycles, asset-heavy operations, regulatory complexity. We don't expect maritime to fit a generic venture playbook, because it doesn't.
Because extraordinary founders deserve more than smart money.They deserve a partner who understands the water.
We support founders with maritime context, customer access, product judgment, capital strategy, and the industry relationships required to move from pilot signal to durable adoption.
Reading which workflows will actually adopt, and which will stall at pilot.
Introductions into operators, ports, and owners. You build the relationships.
Shaping the product around how the work is really done on the ground.
Sequencing the raise around maritime's longer sales and asset cycles.
They are the R&D engine of the changing global trade.
They see opportunities incumbents have normalized as inefficiencies — and build what incumbents can't. Solving maritime problems takes more than capital: it takes a partner fluent in the language of containers, bulkers, tankers, and bills of lading. We bridge that gap.
When early-stage startups succeed, they don't just build companies — they build a more resilient, responsive, and inclusive global trade system. That's why they matter, and why we back them.
But not everything is complex
A decade of bridging gaps in the changing trade engine across innovation, venture, and capital formation
“Few realize the profound impact maritime digital transition can have on humanity.”
Chua Chye PohManaging Partner
Managing Partner
“Few realize the profound impact maritime digital transition can have on humanity.”
Chye Poh is the founder and General Partner of ShipsFocus. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor with over 40 years of experience in maritime commerce. For the past decade, he has focused on innovations in the maritime supply chain. Recognized for his expertise, he was part of the MPA’s IMC 2030 Advisory Committee.
With a keen eye for emerging trends and a track record of successful ventures, he continues to drive innovation in the global maritime arena. Outside of his professional life, Chye Poh has green fingers and enjoys nurturing both companies and his plants.
“I enjoy nurturing early-stage businesses and reaping substantial long-term returns.”
Ronan KellyAdvisor
Advisor
“I enjoy nurturing early-stage businesses and reaping substantial long-term returns.”
Ronan is our Investment Advisor and an essential part of the Investment Committee at ShipsFocus. He has a wealth of experience with an unbeatable track record in public market investing and medtech investments, always adding unique perspectives and valuable insights to our investment selection and decision-making process.
Ronan graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford.
“If a great journey starts with the first step, let it begin at the operations.”
James KimGeneral Partner
General Partner
“If a great journey starts with the first step, let it begin at the operations.”
James has over 20 years of experience in system development both in maritime shipping and venture building. He combines both deep operational understanding and astute commercial grasp with his technical know-how and domain expertise to deliver new and disruptive systems that capture great values in maritime commerce.
James graduated with a double degree in mechanical and computer engineering and is ShipsFocus’ star ping-pong player during lunch hour!
“A decade at sea and another decade in the services taught me exactly where the friction lives—and how to help our founders cut straight through it.”
Sriram BaluPrincipal
Principal
“A decade at sea and another decade in the services taught me exactly where the friction lives—and how to help our founders cut straight through it.”
Sriram bridges decades of heavy maritime operations with sophisticated quantitative strategy. With over 20 years of sector experience, his career is evenly split between a decade at sea as a Marine Engineer and another decade serving as a Marine Technical & Commercial Head across global hubs like Houston, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
His deep sector expertise is matched by a strong technical mind for fintech; he has built two digital platforms and engineered proprietary ETF and stock management algorithms. As our Commercial Catalyst, his transition from a marine engineer at sea to a commercial head across global hubs gives our portfolio companies a tactical edge in navigating, selling to, and conquering international markets.
“Companies don't scale on capital alone—they scale on people. I make sure our founders have both.”
Jessica KwanHR & Admin
HR & Admin
“Companies don't scale on capital alone—they scale on people. I make sure our founders have both.”
Jessica brings 30+ years of deep operational and talent-building experience to the fund, acting as a crucial launchpad for early-stage maritime startups.
She provides hands-on, end-to-end operational and administrative support for the ShipsFocus portfolio, guiding founders through the whole journey from corporate entity setup to sourcing and hiring their first key talents. She ensures that young companies have the structural and human foundations required to attract capital and grow.
A dedicated community mentor, she has served as a Children's Ministry mentor at Wesley Methodist Church since 2005.
“My job is simple: make sure our LPs trust us, and our founders never doubt we're in their corner.”
Nguyen Phuong ThaoInvestor Relations
Investor Relations
“My job is simple: make sure our LPs trust us, and our founders never doubt we're in their corner.”
Thao is the central point of fund operations, working alongside founders to track portfolio health, milestones, and operational challenges, while delivering clear, honest reporting to our LPs. Actively on the ground scouting the next wave of maritime innovation, she leverages her unique Southeast Asian lens to spot high-potential startups before they break through.
Her investment instincts are backed by a rigorous, seven-year academic foundation in the discipline—a Diploma in Maritime Business from Singapore Polytechnic and a B.Sc. in Maritime Studies from Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Before we were investors, we were operators — building digital products to digitize harbour-craft and ship-agent operations across the region.
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