Norwegian AI-powered fisheries startup Catchwise has secured €1.25M in pre-seed funding to enhance data-driven fishing operations. The investment round was led by Dreamcraft Ventures, with participation from Sondo, Ocean Impact, and angel investors from top tech firms, including Oda, Enode, and Meltwater.
The funding will fuel the company’s growth as it continues refining its AI-based maritime platform. Catchwise is currently used by over 50 large vessels daily, helping operators improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Fishing remains a vital source of sustainable animal protein, yet the industry faces logistical and environmental challenges. Vessels often spend weeks at sea, consuming vast amounts of fuel while searching for optimal fishing locations. Historically, fuel efficiency improvements required costly hardware upgrades with only incremental benefits.
Catchwise offers a software-driven alternative by integrating SAT-AIS (satellite ship tracking), 20 years of fisheries data, and real-time ocean conditions such as temperature and salinity. This enables captains to reduce search times and optimize routes, potentially lowering fuel consumption by up to 50%.
The latest investment will accelerate Catchwise's efforts in refining its AI-driven analytics platform, expanding its capabilities in predictive modeling, and enhancing real-time operational insights.
The funds will also support expansion efforts, allowing the company to deepen its presence along Norway’s coastal cities and explore opportunities beyond domestic waters.
Founded in 2023 by Ludvig A. Løddesøl, Tomas Roaldsnes, Jonas Dammen, Kristian Andersen Hole, and Åsmund Brekke, Catchwise emerged after winning the FishAI: Sustainable Commercial Fishing competition in 2022. Since its official launch in March 2024, the company has operated from its Oslo headquarters, with additional offices in Ålesund and key fishing hubs.
By combining expertise in AI, software engineering, and commercial fishing, the team is addressing some of the most pressing challenges in maritime operations.
Investors see Catchwise as a company poised to redefine sustainable fishing practices.
"he Catchwise team combines exceptional industry knowledge with deep expertise in data and AI. They’re addressing some of the most critical challenges in commercial fishing and have already demonstrated increased catch efficiency, reduced costs, and significantly lower environmental impact."." — Daniel Mariussen, Dreamcraft Ventures.
"Catchwise is exactly the kind of team we love partnering with. Their ambition to transform the entire fishing industry by making it fully data-driven and sustainable aligns perfectly with our mission." — Henrik Hatlebrekke, Sondo.
