Last Updated: 30 April 2025
Ceto, an AI-powered platform for maritime insurance and operations, has secured $4.8 million in new funding to accelerate its global expansion and onboard new customers. The seed round was led by Dynamo Ventures, with participation from Howden Ventures, Signal Ventures, and Motion Ventures.
This new round follows strong momentum from ship operators seeking smarter ways to manage risk, compliance, and operational costs at sea.
Ceto operates in one of the world's oldest and most essential industries—shipping—which still relies heavily on outdated practices. Today, around 80% of global trade by volume moves via sea, yet insurance decisions are still made using analog methods.
“For as long as humans have existed, so has our desire to sail the open water. At Ceto, we aim to unite the power of AI with the indispensable human expertise at the heart of maritime.”
Tony Hildrew, CEO and Founder of Ceto
Santosh Sankar, Managing Partner at Dynamo Ventures, added, “An industry with this much global reliance is insured using analog practices that are a hundred years old. Ceto’s quest to reshape the future of maritime insurance is not just inspirational – it’s necessary.”
With the new capital, Ceto plans to expand both its global team and technology platform. The company is hiring across engineering, operations, and sales to support its fast-growing international client base.
To further strengthen its insurance expertise, Ceto has appointed Bob Clarkson as Chief Underwriting Officer. Clarkson brings over three decades of experience in marine insurance, with leadership roles spanning underwriting, claims, and in-house insurance management within shipowner organizations.
Ceto’s platform includes three main tools that aim to make maritime operations more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable:
Depending on whether customers already use data tools, Ceto’s system can onboard entire fleets in just a few hours or days—much faster than any competitor currently on the market.
Founded by Tony Hildrew, Ceto is based at the intersection of technology and shipping, focused on using AI to prevent machinery breakdowns, reduce emissions, and improve risk insights. The company positions itself as a partner in helping the maritime sector evolve in a time of environmental and regulatory change.
With a strong mix of tech and industry experience on its team, Ceto is working to bring smarter decision-making tools to shipowners, insurers, and operators alike.
Dynamo Ventures led the round, joined by Howden Ventures, Signal Ventures, and Motion Ventures—each bringing deep expertise in logistics, insurance, and maritime innovation.
The funding is a strategic move to support Ceto’s broader vision of smarter maritime infrastructure and insurance practices, backed by investors that understand the operational and regulatory complexities of the shipping world.
