Ankeri Secures €2M to Revolutionize Sustainable Shipping

The State of Marine Shipping and a New Solution

More than 90% of all goods shipped worldwide are carried by approximately 50,000 vessels engaged in marine transport. While generally more environmentally sound than other methods, this sector still contributes 3% to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, over €150 billion is spent annually on fossil fuels to power these ships. Addressing these challenges is crucial for a sustainable future.

Introducing Ankeri: Data-Driven Maritime Logistics

Ankeri, a startup based in Reykjavik, Iceland, focuses on providing the essential data required for calculating fuel efficiency, carbon emissions, and overall logistics performance within the maritime industry.

The company’s cloud-based platform consolidates diverse commercial and technical ship information.

How Ankeri's Platform Works

By applying sophisticated algorithms, Ankeri assists charterers in identifying the most energy-efficient and lowest-emission vessel options. This promotes responsible shipping practices.

Transparency and decarbonization are at the core of Ankeri’s mission.

Recent Funding and Expansion Plans

Ankeri has recently secured €2 million in late seed funding led by Frumtak Ventures. This investment will facilitate the company’s expansion into key markets.

The funding will strengthen Ankeri’s presence in North America, Europe, and Asia. Notably, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is already among Ankeri’s clientele.

Company History and Previous Funding

Founded in 2016 by Kristinn Aspelund and Leifur Kristjánsson, Ankeri had previously raised €930,000. This earlier funding came from local investors and grant programs.

These included Iceland’s New Business Venture Fund and the Iceland Technology Development Fund.

Addressing Friction in the Marine Shipping Sector

According to Aspelund, the global marine shipping sector is currently facing significant challenges. These are driven by pandemic-related disruptions, data gaps due to outdated processes, and stricter environmental regulations.

Ankeri’s digitization of ship charter processes brings much-needed transparency to pricing and performance fluctuations. This can result in substantial cost savings – potentially up to €1 million annually.

Sustainable Vessel Selection and Decarbonization

“The collection and analysis of vessel fuel consumption and emissions data within our platform empowers charterers to make more sustainable vessel choices,” Aspelund stated.

“This represents a pivotal step towards achieving marine transport decarbonization goals.”

Competitive Landscape

Companies like Napa, Q88, and AXS represent Ankeri’s closest competitors. However, much of the marine transport industry, like many established supply chains, still relies heavily on manual processes.

Spreadsheets, email communication, and traditional working habits remain prevalent.

Frumtak Ventures' Perspective

Svana Gunnarsdóttir, managing partner at Frumtak Ventures, highlighted the challenges of transport inefficiencies and poor data interoperability in global supply chains.

“Ankeri is addressing these issues through technological innovation, while simultaneously prioritizing financial and environmental sustainability,” Gunnarsdóttir explained.