Unsinkable Robotics created an autonomous robot platform. Its modular design allows us to perform various tasks underwater. Timmu Tollimägi, CEO of the start-up says that unsinkable robust tooling solutions are created for extremes of the industry. It helps to save the health and lives of divers on fishing farms. That is why it is important to expand this solution into new markets and create an impact more widely.
Could you tell us more about your business? What is your product?
Our team is developing a fish farm net fixing tool used with a robot to reduce the need for divers by up to 80%.
What problem does your business solve?
We solve two problems. At first, in Norway, more than 200,000 salmon escape every year due to poorly maintained farms. Up to 1000 tons of fish can be wasted. Our solution helps to save fish. Furthermore, our net fixing tool reduces operation time from 3 hours to 3 minutes. Another one problem we solve human labor needs in fishing farms. Being a diver in this field is very dangerous.
What was the first impulse to start the development of your startup? What were the main stages of your startup?
We have been working with our start-up for about 3 years now. We saw major problems in the maritime sector and ways to solve them by automating, and reducing the impact of these problems (plastic pollution, overfishing). The main stages of our start-up were growing the team, developing the MVP, and raising investment.
Which markets do you target? How did you scale your business abroad? How do you select new markets and what does help you to enter new markets successfully? Which market is the hardest to enter and why?
Our target market is Norway, Mediterranean countries, Scotland, Canada, and Chile – these are the main Fish sector countries. It is important to build partnerships and contacts with the companies operating already in the field and market. Develop cooperation with those who produce and resell fishing nets in order to use their existing network to expand. The hardest part is to prove your technology that it works over extended periods and under extreme weather conditions and to get these initial references that build trust with the clients.
How do you find new partnerships abroad?
Through direct communication, we have divers in our team with up to 10 years of experience working in the foreign market (Norway). Relying on on in he’s contact, and sales network has been valuable.
Unsinkable Robotics participated in the programmes of Scale Up Champions The Market Discovery Tours and Investment Readiness. What was the biggest value of participating in these programmes? Could you describe a few points which helped you to grow in these programmes?
We gained useful knowledge and feedback through the workshops provided (how to improve our business model etc). One of the aims was also to learn how to express the deep-tech sector more clearly and simply to people who are not involved in this area. Practicing pitching was very useful in front of the potential investors, helping to achieve a larger sound surface in what we do.
Could you briefly describe what did you do in this programme? What was the biggest difference before the programme and after?
Our expectation was to find technology partners in the destination country, in the field of machine vision, and to find out if we could find maritime partners who have made submarine robots, etc. We got several useful contacts in terms of machine vision from the conference that we visited. In addition, communication with other start-ups was also useful, culminating in potential cooperation with one start-up from Poland. We got a mentor from Denmark who was experienced in our field and he helped us a lot with finding the right contacts, we also received useful insights into the business sector.
Have you ever tried to attract investments and what was your experience? You mentioned that this programme helped you to learn how to create an interesting profile of a start-up for investors and how to pitch your product to them. What tips and tricks were the most valuable for you?
During the project, we raised a pre-seed investment of 200k €. At the moment we have 3 pilots going on in Norway. Through strategic investors, it is easier to reach new clients as they are well connected within the industry.
Thank you and have a great startup journey!