Antares Ventures - Opportunity in Maritime: Why SEA, Why Now?

Michael Gryseels' presentation at Austrade Panel in Singapore Maritime Week 2025 (March 2025)

Transcript

1. Maritime Innovation Opportunities in Southeast Asia Exploring emerging technologies and investment potential in one of the world's fastest-growing maritime regions Michael Gryseels, Founder & Managing Partner, Antares Ventures
2. Opportunity in Maritime Why SEA? Why Now? Strategic location at heart of global shipping lanes Straits of Malacca handles 25% of world trade Home to 4 of top 20 largest container ports Maritime contributes 15% of Southeast Asia's regional GDP Vibrant maritime tech ecosystem (government, corporate, talent) SEA investment in Maritime Tech doubled in last 3 years
3. Challenges Driving Innovation • Port Congestion: Southeast Asian hubs face 32% longer waiting times. Fragmented supply chains create costly inefficiencies. • Environmental Impact: Southeast Asia hosts one of the world's most fragile ecosystems (Coral Triangle). • Regulatory Pressures: IMO 2030 targets 40% emission reduction. ESG mandates are reshaping operational strategies. • Tech Gaps: Legacy systems hinder digitalization. Data silos prevent end-to-end visibility and optimization.
4. Key Innovation Themes Green Shipping Electric propulsion, green fuels (ammonia, hydrogen, methanol), carbon capture, energy efficiency Port & Supply Chain Digitalization IoT, AI for vessel traffic, blockchain for trade Autonomous Operations Unmanned vessels (USV/UUV), remote inspections, AR/VR for remote training and inspection Marine Biodiversity & Ocean Intelligence Smart aquaculture, real-time monitoring of ocean health, fish stocks, illegal fishing, and marine pollution.
5. About us: Catalysing Deep-tech Innovation in Asia Growth Markets Antares Ventures is Singapore-based pioneer VC fund • Investing globally in early-stage deeptech ventures with breakthrough innovations that address sustainability challenges of Asia's growth markets • Providing founders with regional market insights and access to our corporate networks across Asia • Focus Areas: Energy Transition, Decarbonization, Transport, Cities, Agrifood, Future of Humanity • Our Maritime Companies: Open Ocean Robotics (USV), Photon Marine (electric propulsion), Enadyne (power- to-methanol), Umami (sustainable seafood)