Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Category: AI in Analytics & BI
An AI-powered software platform for maritime domain awareness, providing insights on global maritime activity to intelligence analysts and government agencies. Starboard Maritime Intelligence was founded in 2019. The company is led by Trent Fulcher. Based in Wellington, New Zealand. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: NZ$28 million. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Altered Capital, OIF Ventures, Icehouse Ventures, Movac, Jonty Kelt, K1W1 (Sir Stephen Tindall).
- Founded
- 2019
- Headquarters
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- NZ$28 million
Value proposition
To enhance maritime security and protect marine ecosystems by providing actionable intelligence to detect and intercept illegal activities such as unregulated fishing, smuggling, and other transnational crimes.
Products and solutions
Starboard Maritime Intelligence Platform (SaaS), Cable Risk Intelligence Quarterly, Oil & Gas Risk Intelligence
Unique value
The platform's ability to fuse and analyze vast, complex datasets from multiple sources (including AIS, satellite imagery, and vessel registries) in real-time to provide a single, comprehensive operational view.
Target customer
Government agencies, maritime authorities, defense and intelligence analysts, and environmental protection organizations.
Industries served
Maritime Security, Government, Defense, Environmental Protection, Intelligence Services
Technology advantage
Its core advantage lies in its advanced AI and machine learning algorithms that automatically detect anomalous vessel behavior, identify 'dark vessels' that have turned off their trackers, and provide predictive risk assessments, turning raw data into actionable intelligence.
How they differentiate
Starboard Maritime Intelligence differentiates itself by providing a user-friendly platform that integrates various data sources, including satellite imagery and vessel tracking data, to offer comprehensive maritime domain awareness. The company focuses on detecting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and other illicit maritime activities. Their AI-powered software is designed to be intuitive for analysts and decision-makers, enabling them to quickly identify and respond to threats.
Main competitors
Windward, Spire Global, Pole Star
Key partnerships
S&P Global Market Intelligence, Spire Maritime, Planet Labs PBC, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Tampnet, SYOS Aerospace
Notable customers
New Zealand Ministry of Defence, New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Department of Conservation, Samoa Transnational Crime Unit, Tonga Transnational Crime Unit
Major milestones
Successfully closed a NZ$5 million seed funding round., Raised NZ$23 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round., Secured a significant contract with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities., Expanded its customer base to include various government agencies in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands., Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opened Starboard's new Wellington headquarters (Nov 2025)., Formed global partnership with Tampnet to advance subsea cable protection (Aug 2025)., SYOS Aerospace to integrate Starboard intelligence into uncrewed surface vessels (Nov 2025)., New Zealand backs advanced maritime crime watchfloors for Samoa and Tonga using Starboard (Mar 2026)., Tampnet and Starboard expand fibre sensing capability to strengthen critical infrastructure protection (May 2026).
Growth metrics
Specific growth metrics such as revenue or user numbers are not publicly disclosed.
Market positioning
Starboard is positioned as a specialized provider of maritime intelligence solutions for governments and agencies responsible for fisheries management, border security, and environmental protection. They focus on serving nations in the Pacific region and are expanding globally, offering a more accessible and specialized alternative to larger, more complex maritime security systems.
Geographic focus
While headquartered in New Zealand, Starboard has a strong focus on the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia and the Pacific Islands. The company now operates in more than 30 countries and employs staff across New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, with active expansion into North America and Europe.
Patents and IP
Information not publicly available.
About Trent Fulcher
Trent Fulcher has a background in strategy, data, and international growth. His prior experience includes roles as Chief Commercial Officer at Whip Around, Head of Strategy at Kiwibank, and various positions at ASB Bank. He specializes in commercializing and scaling high-technology products for a global market.
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Official website: https://www.starboardintelligence.com