1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator program is a pivotal funding initiative under the European Innovation Council (EIC), designed to support the development and scaling of innovative startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. Aimed primarily at DeepTech and high-risk, high-potential ventures, the program offers a unique blend of grant funding and equity investment to help companies bring their groundbreaking technologies to market.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator provides two main types of funding: grants and equity.

Purpose and Impact of EIC Accelerator

The primary objective of the EIC Accelerator is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the European ecosystem, particularly in sectors that require significant investment and carry higher risks. By offering financial support, the program aims to stimulate the growth of startups that are poised to make a significant impact on the economy and society.

The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in aiding companies to scale by: - Enhancing their capacity to attract additional funding from private investors.

• Providing business coaching and mentoring, which helps refine business models and market strategies.
• Facilitating networking opportunities with industry experts and potential partners.

Companies that successfully navigate the EIC Accelerator process not only gain financial backing but also gain credibility in the eyes of private investors, which can be essential for future funding rounds.

Case Study: PlanBlue GmbH and Project BLUESURVEY

Company Overview: PlanBlue GmbH, a German startup, has been recognized as an EIC Accelerator winner for its innovative project, BLUESURVEY. This project aims to revolutionize the way underwater resources are monitored and managed, contributing to the sustainable use of oceanic resources.

Project Description: BLUESURVEY is centered around the development of a revolutionary Underwater Satellite technology. This innovative system is designed to unlock the value of the blue economy by providing comprehensive data on marine environments. The technology aims to enhance the monitoring of marine ecosystems, promoting sustainable practices that can protect ocean resources while enabling economic growth.

Technology Basics: At its core, the BLUESURVEY project leverages advanced sensor technology and data analytics to gather real-time information from underwater environments. This includes monitoring marine biodiversity, assessing the health of ecosystems, and tracking human activities that impact oceans. By enabling precise and timely data collection, the technology can significantly enhance decision-making processes related to marine resource management.

The underwater satellite system is designed to operate over vast areas, offering a level of coverage and detail that traditional monitoring methods cannot achieve. By integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning, the technology can analyze complex data sets, providing actionable insights that can inform policy and business strategies.

The BLUESURVEY initiative is not only a technological innovation but also a step towards addressing pressing environmental challenges. By promoting the sustainable use of ocean resources, PlanBlue GmbH aims to contribute to the broader goals of environmental conservation and sustainable economic development.

Conclusion: The EIC Accelerator program serves as a vital catalyst for innovative companies like PlanBlue GmbH. By providing a combination of grant funding and equity investment, the program helps emerging startups to overcome financial barriers, scale their operations, and ultimately contribute to the advancement of sustainable technologies in the blue economy. Through projects like BLUESURVEY, the EIC Accelerator exemplifies its commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability within Europe’s dynamic startup ecosystem.

2 The Funding Rounds

PlanBlue GmbH: Financing and Funding Events Since EIC Accelerator Success (Germany, October 2021)

Financing Raised

PlanBlue GmbH has raised a total of approximately $590,000 in disclosed funding to date. The most recent and notable funding event is their grant award from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, which occurred in October 2021. This EIC grant was reportedly valued at €2.5 million (approximately $2.8 million at the time), marking a significant boost to their financing.

Funding Rounds: Timing, Amounts & Types

• January 2021: Participated in Ocean Solutions Accelerator; funding amount not publicly disclosed.
• October 2021: Awarded an EIC Accelerator grant of €2.5 million.
• March 2022: Secured investment from Ponderosa Ventures; amount not publicly disclosed.
• June 2022: Additional European Innovation Council involvement indicated; precise details or additional amounts not specified beyond the initial €2.5m grant.

Earlier reports from CB Insights confirm a total raised of $590K as of around four years ago—this likely does not include the larger EIC grant that followed in late 2021. Most recent public data centers on grants rather than equity or traditional venture rounds.

Investor Information

PlanBlue’s investor base includes both public innovation funds and private venture capital:

• EIT Climate-KIC
• European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Northern Germany (ESA BIC)
• Space Academy
• Investbridge Capital
• Private investors such as WestTech Ventures and LocalGlobe have also participated in earlier rounds or supportive activities alongside other ecosystem partners.

The major post-EIC named investor is Ponderosa Ventures (March 2022); however, no specific investment figures were released for this round.

Valuations

There are no publicly reported company valuations for PlanBlue GmbH as of April 2025 across Dealroom, CB Insights, or other business intelligence platforms reviewed during this period. Financial estimate sections on Dealroom present placeholder values ('000k'), indicating that market-based valuation metrics are either undisclosed or unavailable at this stage.

Exit Events: IPOs, Buyouts & Acquisitions

No exit events—such as an initial public offering (IPO), buyout, or acquisition—are associated with PlanBlue GmbH between its EIC Accelerator success in October 2021 and April 23, 2025. The company continues to operate independently out of Bremen with ongoing development and commercial traction centered on its seafloor mapping technology.

---

Sources

• PlanBlue company information, funding & investors | Dealroom.co
• Planblue - Products, Competitors, Financials | CB Insights
• PlanBlue company information | Blue Economy Dealroom
• PlanBlue company information | Startup Luxembourg Directory

3 The Press Releases

PlanBlue GmbH Overview

Company Background:

PlanBlue GmbH is a German company specializing in advanced ocean data collection and analysis, particularly focusing on seafloor mapping using hyperspectral imaging and AI-driven data processing. Founded in 2017, PlanBlue has been at the forefront of developing innovative technologies to support marine conservation and the blue economy.

Recent Developments and Partnerships:

• Salesforce 'AI for Good' Recognition: PlanBlue was recognized by Salesforce as one of the leading 'AI for Good' solutions, presenting at DreamForce, the largest AI event worldwide. This acknowledgment highlights PlanBlue's use of AI and machine learning to assess marine ecosystems and support large-scale data analysis.
• Seabed 2030 Partnership: PlanBlue partnered with the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project to accelerate seafloor mapping. This collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency and detail of seafloor monitoring, contributing significantly to global ocean mapping efforts.
• Fugro Partnership: PlanBlue collaborated with Fugro, a leading Geo-data specialist, to integrate its underwater technology with Fugro's solutions. This partnership is poised to revolutionize habitat mapping and support environmental sustainability across various industries.

Technology Advancements:

• Hyperspectral Imaging and AI: PlanBlue utilizes hyperspectral cameras and machine learning to create detailed maps of the seafloor. These maps provide insights into ecosystem health, carbon sequestration potential, and biodiversity.
• Data Processing: The company has developed advanced data processing pipelines using machine learning to analyze and interpret the vast amounts of data collected from underwater operations.

Team Updates and Recognition:

• International Hydrographic Review Feature: An article co-authored by PlanBlue's team was published in the International Hydrographic Review, discussing the role of seafloor mapping in addressing climate change and enhancing ocean conservation.
• DreamForce Presentation: Co-founder and CSO Hannah Brocke presented at DreamForce, highlighting PlanBlue's innovative approach to marine ecosystem assessment.

EIC Accelerator Funding:

PlanBlue received EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021, marking a significant milestone in its growth and development. This funding has likely supported the company's expansion of its technology and partnerships.

Press Releases and Blog Posts

PlanBlue regularly updates its website with press releases and articles detailing its partnerships, technological advancements, and participation in significant events. These updates can be found on their official website under the "News" and "Articles" sections.

Sources

• News and Stories - PlanBlue
• PlanBlue recognized as leading 'AI for Good' solution by Salesforce
• Closing the data gap: PlanBlue featured in International Hydrographic Review
• We need radical innovation to deliver on COP16 - PlanBlue
• Seabed 2030 and PlanBlue announce partnership
• Partnership with Fugro to scale underwater habitat mapping
• Where to Find Us in 2023 - PlanBlue
• The Future of Underwater Technology: Interview with Joost Den Haan from PlanBlue
• PlanBlue: Scaling an image recognition AI system to protect coastal ecosystems

4 The Technology Advancements

PlanBlue GmbH, a marine technology company based in Germany, has significantly advanced its capabilities and market presence since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021. Specializing in underwater hyperspectral imaging and automated seafloor mapping, the company has focused on improving data accuracy, scalability, and ecological relevance of its solutions.

Current Capabilities

PlanBlue’s core technology combines hyperspectral imaging, underwater navigation systems, and machine learning to generate geo-referenced seafloor maps with unprecedented detail. These maps assess biodiversity, pollution levels, carbon sequestration potential (particularly for seagrass meadows), and ecosystem health. Their automated data pipelines reduce processing time from weeks/months to hours/days by replacing manual diver surveys with remote sensing.

Post-EIC Accelerator Advancements

• Technology Enhancements: PlanBlue refined motion-correction algorithms for push-broom hyperspectral cameras to mitigate distortions caused by underwater movement. The DiveRay system’s validation studies confirmed parity between automated classifications and manual photoquadrat analyses for coral reef monitoring.
• Market Demonstrations: Collaborated with the University of Guam (2019–2023) to monitor coral reef transitions using hyperspectral imaging, validating the method’s efficiency for dynamic ecosystems. Partnered with Seabed 2030 in October 2023 to enhance global seafloor mapping efforts through ground-truthing satellite/aerial data.
• Scientific Output: Published peer-reviewed research in PLOS ONE (2024) demonstrating DiveRay’s effectiveness in assessing benthic cover alongside traditional methods. Featured in the International Hydrographic Review (May 2024) for automating seafloor health assessments to accelerate nature-based climate solutions.

While no new patents are explicitly mentioned post-2021, PlanBlue continues prioritizing proprietary AI-driven analytics and sensor fusion techniques. Their focus on blue carbon financing—particularly seagrass carbon stock quantification—positions them as a key player in sustainable ocean economy initiatives like the World Economic Forum’s UpLink Challenge (cited early 2023).

---

Sources

• Seabed 2030 partnership announcement
• Guam coral reef study
• Automated seafloor mapping methodology
• Hyperspectral imaging assessment paper

5 The Partnerships and Customers

PlanBlue GmbH, a German marine technology company awarded the EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021, has been actively expanding its partnerships and customer base since then, strengthening its market position and enhancing technological capabilities.

Key Partnerships and Customers

Seabed 2030 Partnership (October 2023)
PlanBlue established a significant partnership with The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, a global initiative aiming to map the entire ocean floor by 2030. This collaboration enhances understanding of the seafloor by integrating PlanBlue’s advanced underwater hyperspectral imaging and AI-driven data processing technologies. The partnership supports transparency and efficacy in blue carbon financing and biodiversity protection projects globally, leveraging PlanBlue’s expertise to ground-truth aerial and satellite imagery effectively.

Fugro Strategic Partnership (Announced late 2023 / early 2024)
PlanBlue teamed up with Fugro, a world-leading geo-data specialist company. This strategic alliance focuses on integrating PlanBlue’s pioneering underwater habitat mapping technology with Fugro's mature digital solutions framework. The collaboration prioritizes scaling habitat mapping efforts using uncrewed vehicles like autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It aims to support offshore wind farm projects as well as ocean health conservation initiatives while exploring new markets for environmental sustainability applications.

Nature of New Relationships

• Technological Integration: The partnerships emphasize combining PlanBlue's proprietary hyperspectral imaging technology with partners’ extensive data platforms or operational frameworks to enhance accuracy, scale, speed, and detail of seafloor monitoring.
• Market Expansion: Collaborations enable entry into broader sectors such as blue carbon markets through improved seagrass carbon stock estimation methodologies (Seabed 2030) or infrastructure-related environmental impact assessments for offshore renewables (Fugro).
• Environmental Impact: Both relationships focus heavily on promoting ocean conservation measures—providing critical data that underpins biodiversity credit systems and sustainable blue economy initiatives.

Impact on Market Positioning

These partnerships position PlanBlue GmbH as an innovative leader in marine data acquisition technology:

• By partnering with globally recognized entities like Seabed 2030 and Fugro, PlanBlue gains credibility essential for attracting further customers interested in high-resolution seafloor mapping.
• Integrating their tech into Fugro's well-established platforms broadens their reach across multiple geospatial application domains.
• Engagements linked to international climate action goals increase visibility within sustainability-focused investment circles.

Contributions Toward Technology Advancement & Scaling

• Scaling Data Capture: With plans underway to integrate their camera system onto autonomous underwater vehicles capable of surveying up to thousands of kilometers rather than diver-operated limited ranges, these partnerships facilitate scaling operations both geographically and technologically.
• Enhanced Data Processing: Collaborations have driven improvements in cloud-based AI pipelines managing vast datasets from hyperspectral imaging — including modularized Kedro pipelines deployed via AWS Batch functions — enabling stable handling of large-scale image processing workloads.
• Innovation Acceleration: Working alongside experienced partners accelerates product development cycles through cross-industry knowledge transfer while supporting diversification into adjacent product lines like marine benthic vegetation classification or plastic waste detection from existing sensor inputs.

In summary, since receiving EIC Accelerator funding at the end of 2021, PlanBlue GmbH has developed notable collaborations mainly with Seabed 2030 (The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO) focused on global seabed mapping efforts starting October 2023; plus an impactful alliance with Fugro aimed at advancing habitat mapping technologies announced around late 2023/early 2024. These new relationships strategically elevate PlanBlue’s standing within ocean tech markets by enabling technological integration at scale along commercial clients’ workflows—thus driving enhanced innovation capacity while expanding operational scope significantly beyond initial pilot scales.

---

Sources

• Seabed2030-Partnership Announcement
• News Section - Seabed Partnership
• Partnerships Overview - GeoResources
• Fugro-Partnership Details
• AI System Scaling Case Study - Enjins
• Operationalizing Hyperspectral Imaging - Hydro International

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

PlanBlue GmbH, a German company based in Bremen, has shown noteworthy team growth and strategic hiring since winning the EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021.

Current Headcount and Team Size

As of late 2023, PlanBlue employs over 25 people. This reflects considerable growth from its founding team of four co-founders in 2017 to a multidisciplinary staff that includes marine scientists, engineers, data scientists, software developers, sales professionals, and HR specialists. The company size is reported within the range of 11-50 employees according to business directories but recent direct sources confirm it surpasses 25 members.

Hiring Activity and Key Positions

PlanBlue is actively recruiting new talent to support its expansion. Current open positions include a Camera Systems Engineer for their Field Tools team focusing on automated underwater hyperspectral imaging systems as well as an Office Manager role to support daily operations across the company. They also offer internships and master’s thesis opportunities aimed at students specialized in marine bioinformatics, biology or environmental science with interests in machine learning applications. These roles indicate ongoing investment in both technical expertise and operational capacity.

Significantly, the company has recently hired senior roles such as Head of Sales (Leonardo Tamborrino), Head of Brand & User Experience (Walter Consul), Senior Visual Designer (Christoph Schroeder), Senior Software Engineers (e.g., Saurabh Verma), Data Scientists including senior data science roles like Moritz Baumann. Critical leadership hires have been facilitated through enhanced recruitment strategies emphasizing PlanBlue’s environmental mission which helped attract candidates willing to accept slightly below-market salaries but with higher retention rates.

Growth Impact on Future Scaling

New hires bring essential skills that contribute directly to scaling PlanBlue’s capabilities—especially automation via AI-driven seafloor mapping technology—and expanding market reach. By integrating experts across hardware engineering for camera systems alongside software development and data science teams focused on automating data processing pipelines, PlanBlue accelerates delivery speed for georeferenced seafloor maps critical for conservation efforts. This multidisciplinary growth supports their transition from startup phase towards scale-up maturity by improving product offerings while reinforcing operational infrastructure through dedicated office management support.

Management or Founding Team Changes

No publicly noted major changes have been reported regarding the original founding team since winning EIC funding. The core founders—Joost Bakker (CTO & Co-Founder), Guy Rigot (Innovation Specialist & Co-Founder), Raja Kandukuri (Project Director)—remain active within leadership roles alongside new project directors such as Rosanna Schöneich-Argent contributing further managerial capacity within evolving teams.

In summary:

• PlanBlue has grown from its founding four-person core team into a staff exceeding 25 employees.
• They continue hiring key technical positions like Camera Systems Engineer plus leadership roles supporting sales and branding.
• New talent enhances automation capabilities enabling faster seafloor mapping at scale.
• Enhanced recruitment rooted in clearly communicated environmental purpose aids retention.
• No significant changes reported among founders; recent additions bolster management depth.

This trajectory demonstrates how PlanBlue leverages targeted hiring aligned with their innovation goals post-EIC Accelerator funding to solidify their position as a pioneering ocean conservation tech firm poised for continued expansion.

---

Sources:

• About us - PlanBlue
• From seabed to cloud: ground-truthing seagrass ... - GeoGarage blog
• Join us - PlanBlue
• PlanBlue Company Overview | LeadIQ
• Case: PlanBlue - House of Peoplefinders

7 The Media Features and Publications

PlanBlue GmbH, a German company providing advanced seafloor mapping technologies, has garnered media attention through various publications, conferences, and events since winning the EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021.

Media Features and Publications

• PlanBlue published a peer-reviewed article on their DiveRay technology for reef monitoring in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, highlighting their contribution to marine ecosystem monitoring.
• The company was featured in the International Hydrographic Review following a talk by Co-founder and CSO Hannah Brocke at Hydro 2023. The article titled "Closing the data gap: Automated seafloor health maps to accelerate nature-based solutions" discusses how PlanBlue’s AI-driven imaging and machine learning technology enhances ocean conservation efforts by providing detailed seafloor maps critical for climate change mitigation and blue carbon markets.
• Another feature appeared in Hydro International with an article authored by founders Guy Rigot and Raja Kandukuri titled "From Seabed to Cloud: Groundtruthing Seagrass Data." It explains their integration of underwater hyperspectral imaging, RGB imaging, navigation systems, and AI to speed up data collection while ensuring accuracy for marine ecosystem restoration projects.
• PlanBlue's technology was also acknowledged by Salesforce as one of three leading 'AI for Good' startups at DreamForce 2024. Hannah Brocke presented how AI-powered autonomous vehicles are transforming marine data collection at this major event focused on artificial intelligence innovation.

Podcasts or Interviews

There are no publicly available records of PlanBlue team members participating directly as guests or hosts on major podcasts or interview series dedicated specifically to them up until now.

Conference Participation and Event Involvement

PlanBlue has actively participated in several high-profile industry events:

• Monaco Ocean Week (March 2023): CEO Joost den Haan spoke on an AI panel discussing ocean conservation technologies including PlanBlue’s innovations.
• Geospatial World Forum (May 2023): Dr. Hannah Brocke was a speaker addressing geospatial approaches relevant to seafloor monitoring; Commercial Director Hermen Westerbeeke also attended this global geospatial community event.
• OCEANOVATION Festival (June 2023): CSO Hannah Brocke took part in a fireside chat about the importance of unbiased data for benthic ecosystem conservation efforts.

Additional planned participations throughout 2023 included:

• Uplink Sustainable Development Impact Meetings, New York City (September)
• Geobuiz Europe Summit, Brussels (September)
• The Economist Sustainability Week: Countdown to COP28, London (October)
• INTERGEO Expo & Conference Berlin (October)

These engagements highlight PlanBlue’s commitment to promoting its automated seafloor mapping solutions within environmental science forums emphasizing blue economy growth and sustainability efforts globally.

---

In summary, since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in late 2021, PlanBlue GmbH has established itself prominently through scientific publication features focusing on coral reefs and seagrass mapping using advanced AI-enabled underwater imaging technologies. Their leadership regularly presents at key international events related to ocean science innovation while gaining recognition from major corporate platforms like Salesforce's DreamForce. However, there is currently no notable presence of direct podcast interviews featuring team members publicly documented.

Sources

• News - Peer reviewed article Scientific Reports
• International Hydrographic Review Feature
• Hydro International Article Feature
• DreamForce Recognition as 'AI for Good'
• Conference & Event Participation Details
• Podcast Search Results - No Matches Found