Sources : https://dolphinlabs.tech/

Dolphin Labs is an American deep-tech startup focused on harnessing ocean wave energy to power autonomous offshore operations, maritime domain awareness solutions, and ocean monitoring systems. The company’s flagship technology, the xNode Wave Energy Converter, enables persistent renewable power generation and supports a wide range of applications from remote sensing to defence and environmental monitoring across the blue economy. 

Founded in the early 2020s and led by Rolle Hogan, Michael Kelly & Chris Raunch, Dolphin Labs emerged as a specialized spin-out from Cal Wave Power Technologies to focus on smaller-scale, efficient wave energy platforms tailored for maritime and offshore use cases. Headquartered in Oakland, California, the company operates at the intersection of renewable energy, maritime domain technology, and ocean stewardship. Its mission is to develop solutions that leverage the ocean’s vast and constant wave energy to enable persistent power and data infrastructure where traditional energy systems struggle to operate. 

Sources : https://dolphinlabs.tech/

The flagship product of Dolphin Labs is the xNode Wave Energy Converter, a compact and resilient ocean energy platform that transforms the constantly moving motion of sea waves into reliable, renewable electrical power for offshore operations. Designed as a self-sustaining buoy-like system, the xNode can generate up to approximately 1 kW of continuous power, significantly more energy than similar-sized solar or wind solutions, making it ideal for powering remote sensing equipment, surveillance systems, subsea communications, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) support without the need for traditional fuel or shore-based infrastructure. Its modular architecture includes onboard energy storage and configurable payload compartments for scientific instruments, while its durable hull and adaptive deployment capability allow it to operate on the surface or submerged, ensuring survivability and performance in harsh marine environments. The xNode platform is sensor-agnostic, meaning it can accommodate a wide range of third-party instruments for environmental monitoring, maritime domain awareness, and ocean research missions, turning remote waters into persistent, data-enabled operational environments.

Dolphin Labs has attracted early-stage support and investment primarily through specialized accelerator and innovation programs focused on ocean and climate technology. A key backer is the Blue Action Accelerator, an international seed-stage investment platform run in partnership with Founders Factory that provides startups with cash investment (typically around US$ 150,000), operational support, and access to a global network of partners and follow-on capital targeted at blue economy solutions. Through this program, Dolphin Labs gains not only funding but also strategic guidance, testing infrastructure, and connections to policymakers and potential customers in sectors like maritime monitoring and environmental research. In addition, the company has participated in the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, a program linked to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), that supports emerging ocean tech ventures, helping them refine their technology and find market fit. Dolphin Labs has also been selected for other programs such as NATO’s Défense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which aids with networking and growth opportunities.

Final Thought

Dolphin Labs represents a new class of emerging leaders in the blue economy, leveraging wave energy, a renewable and consistent power source, to transform how offshore systems are powered and operated. Its proprietary xNode Wave Energy Converter brings reliable energy and data capability to environments where traditional approaches are costly or impractical. With expert founders at the helm and support from high-profile accelerators like Blue Action and StartBlue, Dolphin Labs is well-positioned to impact ocean monitoring, marine surveillance, autonomous operations, and sustainable maritime infrastructure. While still in its early funding stages, the company’s technological promise and strategic backing speak to a growing interest in clean, resilient ocean technologies that leverage existing renewable energy sources better than ever before to advance both commercial and environmental goals.

References

Dolphin Labs Official Website. (n.d.). https://dolphinlabs.tech/ Dolphin Labs

Dolphin Labs – Leadership. (n.d.). https://dolphinlabs.tech/company/ Dolphin Labs

Dolphin Labs Ocean – Dealroom Profile. (2025). https://app.dealroom.co/companies/dolphin_labs_ocean Dealroom.co

Dolphin Labs – F6S Profile. (2025). https://www.f6s.com/company/dolphin-labs F6S

Blue Action Accelerator – Founders Factory. (2025). https://foundersfactory.com/blue-action-accelerator/ Founders Factory+1

StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Cohort Info. (2025). https://startblue.ucsd.edu/cohort-4/ StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas
Reviewer     : Imam Buchari