Vessev has announced 19 million USD in Series A and follow-on financing; its first US commercial customer, FlyTahoe; and a series of high-profile US activations across, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Lake Tahoe that aim to mark the company’s entry into the country’s market.
Combined, these milestones are expected to establish Vessev’s presence as it enters the United States, showcasing its electric hydrofoiling technology to customers, policymakers, investors, media and maritime leaders.
Funding has been led by Blackbird Ventures, who also acted as an early backer of Canva, with new investors GD1 and Rypples also joining the round alongside existing investors K1W1 (early investor in Rocket Lab), Icehouse Ventures (early investor in Halter), Shasta Ventures, NZVC, and existing angel investors.
This capital will be used to accelerate in-house serial production of Vessev’s VS–9 vessel line, expand the company’s global go-to-market team, advance development of its onboard software and telemetry platform, accelerate the development of larger vessels, and support plans to manufacture in the United States.
Eric Laakmann, co-founder and CEO of Vessev, said:Hydrofoiling doesn't just make boats better, it redefines what's possible on water.
By combining electric propulsion, advanced foiling systems, and software, we're making vessels significantly more efficient, better for passengers and more scalable for operators. Lake Tahoe is an ideal place to demonstrate our technology and we're excited to work with our first US customer, FlyTahoe, to help communities rethink mobility on the lake, offering a faster, more reliable alternative.
Vessev has announced that it will make its US debut in New York City ahead of New York Climate Week, with additional demonstrations set to take place throughout the week. During this time, the company will showcase its electric hydrofoiling technology in a city where waterways have long played a central role in transportation, and as New York explores sustainable mobility options, Vessev will seek to demonstrate how faster, quieter and more efficient ferry services might provide a model for cities worldwide.
Following this, timed with America’s 250th anniversary; Vessev will next visit Washington, DC’s Navy Yard on the Potomac River in late September.
In collaboration with the DC Mobility Innovation District, the company will host on-water demonstrations for government leaders, media, investors and industry partners. Demonstrations will also take place at Lake Tahoe, where FlyTahoe has selected Vessev’s VS–9 for its planned sustainable water transit network, subject to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency permits and approvals.
The company has expressed plans to work with US shipbuilders while continuing to develop its core technology in-house, including foils, hardware and flight-control systems.
With more than 11,000 nautical miles logged, the commercially certified VS–9 is already operating in New Zealand. The 10-passenger, battery-electric vessel can travel up to 40 nautical miles fully loaded and 50 nautical miles with a light load, with larger platforms in development.
Vessev is now pursuing projects across five continents, including Northern Ireland, Sydney and Hobart, demonstrating the potential of electric hydrofoiling to transform underutilised waterways into operational transit networks.
