Ceto, the technology system reshaping the future of maritime insurance, announced a £3.6m fundraising round. The round was led by Dynamo Ventures, with participation from Howden Ventures, Signal Ventures, and Motion Ventures.
Ceto’s platform is unlocking a wealth of data for maritime operators. For some, this means a whole new world of insights at their fingertips. Owners and operators starting fresh with data can be fully onboarded and online in about 1–2 days. For those who already have an existing data capture solution, Ceto can use that available information and have a full fleet online in their system within 2–4 hours, faster than any competitor on the market.
Ceto helps ship owners run smarter, greener, and more cost-efficient operations with three key tools. Their main platform, Watchkeeper, uses AI to track ships in real time, spot issues early, and keep fleets running safely and efficiently. CarbonID handles emissions and fuel tracking, helping ships stay compliant with environmental rules while cutting costs and pollution using AI. Connected Insurance ties a ship’s performance data to its insurance, rewarding safer and more efficient operations with better terms and lower premiums. Altogether, Ceto uses smart tech to optimise performance, reduce emissions, and unlock more flexible insurance options.
The funding from this round will go toward Ceto’s ongoing global expansion of both its product and team. As it takes on a growing international customer base, Ceto is scaling its engineering, operations, and sales teams and has appointed Bob Clarkson as Chief Underwriting Officer, further deepening its insurance and risk expertise. With more than 30 years of experience in marine insurance, Bob has led across underwriting, claims and served as an in-house insurance manager within shipowners' offices.
For as long as humans have existed, so has our desire to sail the open water. It’s no surprise then that maritime—one of the world’s oldest industries—still relies on some outdated practices. At Ceto, we aim to unite the power of AI with the indispensable human expertise at the heart of maritime. This kind of technology plays a critical role in identifying risk and improving decision-making, ushering in a smarter era for shipping and finance.
Tony Hildrew, Founder & CEO
Maritime operations are the backbone of industry, with 80% of global trade by volume taking place over sea. 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. Our world won’t move forward if our supply chain is stuck in the past, and Dynamo is excited to be supporting Ceto as they embark on this journey to improve how these assets are monitored, maintained, and insured.
Santosh Sankar, Managing Partner at Dynamo Ventures
In today’s unpredictable market, shipowners are under growing pressure to navigate increasingly complex risks, from geopolitical instability and rising repair costs to the challenges of managing ageing fleets and meeting tightening environmental regulations. Insurance has a crucial role to play in supporting clients through these complexities, not just by providing protection, but by evolving alongside the industry to remain relevant and forward-looking. Ceto is a clear example of that evolution; by providing a comprehensive support system built around data, risk insights, and responsive underwriting, it empowers clients to make informed decisions and adapt with confidence. It’s not just about cover, it’s also about having a partner that understands your needs while helping the class continue to innovate and keep pace with a changing industry, but at the same time when armed with improved data, we can see a clearer vision when advising our clients on risk retention, risk transfer, captives and negotiating improved terms.
Danny Whiteside, Cargo & Logistics at Howden
