Image Credit: navierboat.com

Many coastal and seafaring operations are increasingly challenged by environmental concerns, operational cost, and efficiency. Traditional boats powered by combustion engines suffer from high fuel consumption, significant emissions (air, noise, and water pollution), and high maintenance costs. Hydrodynamic drag when pushing a hull through water causes energy losses, and rough seas degrade ride comfort (causing seasickness, safety issues), reducing speed efficiency and increasing wear. 

Navier is tackling exactly these problems by combining hydrofoil technology, electric propulsion, advanced composites, and intelligent software control to create high-efficiency marine vessels. The technology aims to lift the hull out of the water once sufficient speed is achieved, thereby drastically reducing drag and increasing energy efficiency. The electric drive eliminates fuel-based emissions, noise, and much of the vibration. Altogether, the company claims to cut operating costs by up to 90% relative to typical gas-powered boats.  The need for such technology is particularly important in coastal cities with congested land transport infrastructure, in ferry, water taxi or short haul maritime applications, defense or mission-critical uses where silent, efficient operations, speed, and reduced maintenance are key. Also, environmental regulations (for emissions, noise, wake) are increasingly stringent, pushing maritime transport towards cleaner solutions.

Navier was founded in January 2021 by Sampriti Bhattacharyya, PhD, an MIT-trained mechanical engineer and former aerospace researcher who now serves as CEO, together with Reo Baird, a naval architect, and Kenny Jensen, PhD, a physicist with expertise in control systems and autonomy who previously worked on advanced flight technologies at Makani. The team combines deep expertise in aerospace, robotics, naval engineering, and high-performance materials, bringing together the technical breadth needed to design and scale hydrofoiling electric boats. Their backgrounds in both academia and industry, including NASA projects, advanced composites, and control software, provide Navier with a strong foundation to push the boundaries of maritime electrification and hydrodynamic innovation.

Navier has successfully attracted strong investor backing to accelerate its mission of transforming maritime mobility. In February 2022, the company secured a US$7.2 million seed round, co-led by Global Founders Capital and Treble, with participation from NextView Ventures, Liquid2 Ventures, Soma Capital, Precursor Ventures, and prominent angel investors such as Charlie Songhurst, Josh Lee, Yida Gao, Kent Ho, and David Jen. This funding supported the development of the first prototype vessels and the expansion of its engineering team. In June 2024, Navier raised a Series A round led by Leblon Capital and NextView Ventures, though the exact amount remains undisclosed, aimed at scaling production, enhancing vessel performance, and expanding commercial deployments. These investments highlight strong market confidence in Navier’s hydrofoiling electric boat technology and its potential to redefine sustainable maritime transportation.

Navier’s flagship product, the N30 Pioneer Edition, is a 30-foot all-electric hydrofoiling vessel designed to deliver efficiency, comfort, and sustainability for a wide range of maritime users. Built from lightweight carbon fiber composites and equipped with retractable hydrofoils, the boat lifts above the water to drastically reduce drag by up to 90%, allowing for longer range, higher speeds, and smoother rides compared to conventional hull designs. The emissions-free propulsion is powered by high-capacity batteries that drive quiet electric motors, which also cut down on vibration and maintenance. To ensure stability and safety, the boat uses sophisticated flight control systems similar to those found in modern aircraft that automatically adjust the foils in real time to maintain balance, absorb wave impact, and enable smooth transitions between displacement and foiling modes. Retractable foil mechanisms allow for shallow water operations and docking flexibility, while redundant onboard systems reduce risk of failure. 

Altogether, this integration of hardware and software creates a vessel that is cleaner, faster, quieter, and more reliable, meeting the growing demand for sustainable and high-performance maritime transport. For seafarers and companies, this translates into significant cost savings from reduced fuel use and maintenance, compliance with tightening environmental regulations, and improved operational reliability. Whether serving as a commuter ferry, water taxi, or leisure craft, the N30 offers a scalable solution that supports both economic efficiency and sustainable maritime practices.

Image Credit: navierboat.com

Navier has built strategic partnerships and secured notable clients that strengthen its position in the maritime technology sector. Early in its journey, the company partnered with Lyman-Morse Shipyard in Maine to construct the first production hulls of the N30, leveraging the yard’s expertise in advanced composites and marine craftsmanship. On the commercial side, Navier launched pilot programs such as a commuter service with Stripe employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, showcasing the vessel’s potential for urban water mobility. In 2025, Navier expanded into defense applications by securing Leidos as a client, highlighting the boat’s suitability for mission-critical operations that require endurance, efficiency, and reliability. These collaborations, along with strong support from its venture investors, not only validate the market demand for hydrofoiling electric boats but also demonstrate Navier’s ability to serve diverse segments ranging from urban commuting to national security.

Navier is one of the more advanced startups in maritime electrification, especially focusing on hydrofoiling to solve drag losses and thereby unlock longer range and better efficiency. For maritime applications in coastal passenger transport, water-taxi, defense, or high-performance recreation, the technology promises large benefits in reduced operating cost, environmental impact, and ride quality. That said, challenges remain in scaling, cost, regulation, infrastructure, and proving consistent real-sea reliability. But with seed funding in the bag, ongoing partnerships with engineering / defense clients, and pilot cases underway, Navier seems well positioned to influence how marine transport evolves in the coming years.

References

Abbate, L. (2022, December 7). Navier’s 30-foot hydrofoiling electric boat hits the water and prepares for production. TechCrunch. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/07/navier-electric-hydrofoil

Hawkins, A. J. (2022, February 7). Navier raises $7.2M to build high-tech electric hydrofoiling boats. The Verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/7/navier-electric-hydrofoil-funding

Electrek. (2022, February 8). Electric hydrofoil startup Navier raises $7.2 million in seed funding. Electrek. Retrieved from https://electrek.co/2022/02/08/navier-7-2m-seed-funding

Yachting Ventures. (2022, February 8). Navier raises $7.2 million to develop next-generation electric boats. Yachting Ventures. Retrieved from https://yachtingventures.co/navier-raises-7-2m

Clay.com. (2025, May 2). Navier funding rounds and investors. Clay. Retrieved from https://clay.com/dossier/navier-funding

CSCP&G. (2025, July 21). Navier announces new customer expanding its portfolio of advanced maritime technology. CSCP&G Industry News. Retrieved from https://cscpg.org/industry-news/navier-new-customer

Navier. (n.d.). About Navier. Navier. Retrieved from https://navierboat.com/about

Contributor : Ariana tri asti
Reviewer : Imam Buchari, David Ratner