Maritime remains the backbone of global trade, yet the industry has lagged in adopting digital and decarbonization technologies. Traditional investment channels have underfunded maritime-tech startups, leaving innovators with limited access to capital, corporate partnerships, and industry infrastructure. Motion Ventures addresses these gaps by positioning itself as the world’s first and largest maritime-specific VC funds, deliberately designed to provide both funding and a strategic ecosystem to speed deployment and real-world impact.

Shaun Hon is the visionary founder and General Partner of Motion Ventures. Hon was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow list for his groundbreaking work in supply chain finance and transportation tech . Backed by Rainmaking and supported by corporate maritime giants like Wilhelmsen and HHLA, his leadership team combines tech, finance, and startup expertise to drive transformation across maritime supply chains.

Investors & Funds Raised

• Fund I (2021): S$30M initial close (approx. US$22 M), anchored by Wilhelmsen, HHLA, and SEEDS Capital (Singapore Government).
• Fund II (2025): US$100 M committed; targeting cheque sizes of US$250,000–10M into at least 25 startups over 18–24 months. So far, more than 50% of Fund II is deployed, backed by 17+ major maritime corporates including Wilhelmsen.

Motion actively supports startups across maritime digitization and decarbonization technologies. Notable portfolio companies include:

• Everimpact: GHG emissions tracking for ships, ports, and cities; partners include Shell & Mitsubishi 
• FreightFlows: Predictive analytics for vessel availability and port activity 
• ShipsKart: Maritime e-commerce supply chain platform 
• OceanScore & Fernride: Part of early deployments from Fund II 

These solutions empower seafarers and fleet operators with data-driven decision-making tools from emissions reporting to procurement efficiency.

In addition to the above, Motion Ventures also holds positions in several other portfolio companies, including FrontM, Greywing, Innovez One, Kaiko Systems, Kappal, Pyxis, Secro, Signol, and Sinay

Motion Ventures operates as a strategic venture capital platform purpose-built for the maritime sector, combining funding with access to a powerful network of industry stakeholders. The core mechanism of the fund involves identifying early-stage startups that offer innovative solutions in maritime digitalization, decarbonization, and supply chain efficiency. Once selected, these startups receive capital investments ranging from $250,000 to $10 million alongside structured support from a coalition of 17+ corporate partners including Wilhelmsen, HHLA, and SEEDS Capital. 

Through the Motion Ventures Alliance, startups are embedded into a rich ecosystem of over 80 maritime executives, offering real-world pilot opportunities, mentorship, and co-development pathways. By operating from Singapore with a global outlook, Motion helps bridge the gap between maritime startups and the complex procurement channels of large shipping and logistics firms. Additionally, the fund prioritizes scalable solutions by encouraging technology integration with ports, vessels, and maritime supply chains thus enabling faster commercialization and reducing go-to-market friction for founders.

Motion Ventures provides startups with far more than just capital. Its biggest strength lies in the deep integration it facilitates between early-stage innovators and established maritime corporates. Startups gain immediate access to testing environments, regulatory guidance, and customer acquisition pipelines. The fund’s global reach across more than 10 markets, along with targeted investment in maritime digitalization and decarbonization, ensures high relevance and sectoral alignment. Moreover, the structured mentorship and networking ecosystem via the Motion Ventures Alliance enables rapid learning and real-world problem-solving qualities rarely available in conventional VC models. With Fund I already showing returns, including two profitable exits, and Fund II boasting a substantial US$100 million allocation, the platform demonstrates both financial traction and operational credibility.

However, Motion Ventures also has limitations. Its industry-specific focus means startups must tightly align with maritime use cases, potentially narrowing its appeal to broader tech innovations. The reliance on corporate stakeholders while powerful can also slow down decision-making or introduce conflicting interests, especially during pilot or procurement phases. Furthermore, hardware-centric startups, which Motion Ventures has begun targeting in Fund II, may face longer development cycles and require more capital than the VC model traditionally accommodates. Lastly, while the fund is globally oriented, its base and strongest network are still centered in Asia and Europe, which may present a barrier for North or South American maritime innovators looking to plug into the ecosystem.

Motion Ventures is accelerating maritime transformation by blending capital with corporate-backed pilots and deep domain expertise. With the launch of its US$100M Fund II, Motion is not just investing it’s building the infrastructure for maritime startups to succeed at scale. In an industry thirsty for digital and green innovation, Motion stands out as a strategic catalyst, driving both startup growth and sector-wide advancement.

References

• Motion Ventures. (2025, March 18). Motion Ventures launches Fund II, the largest maritime-focused tech fund [Press release]. GlobeNewswire. 
• Motion Ventures. (2021, February 25). Debuts S$30M fund anchored by Wilhelmsen & HHLA [Press release]. Wilhelmsen. 
• Technode Global Staff. (2025, March 20). Singapore’s Motion Ventures launches $100M maritime tech fund. TechNode Global. 
• Wilhelmsen. (2025, March 20). Strengthens maritime innovation with Motion Ventures Fund II. 
• Hogan Lovells. (2025, April 1). Advises on formation of US$100M Fund II.
• TeaserClub. (n.d.). Motion Ventures portfolio companies overview.

Contributor: Ariana Tri Asti
Reviewer : Imam Buchari, David Ratner