WSense Secures €10M for Underwater Wireless Tech
Italian ocean tech firm WSense raises €10M pre-Series B led by Indico Capital Partners and SIMEST to scale subsea wifi and expand underwater IoT.
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Founded 2012 · Rome, Italy
Rome’s ocean depths just got a whole lot smarter. WSense, the Italian deep-tech firm pioneering underwater wireless communication through its “subsea wifi” systems, has closed a €10 million pre-Series B round. The funding brings the company’s total capital raised beyond €25 million and positions it to accelerate expansion across critical infrastructure monitoring and environmental protection sectors.
Indico Capital Partners and SIMEST co-led the round, joining existing backers CDP Venture Capital SGR, SWEN Blue Ocean, RunwayFBU, Axon Partners Group, Fincantieri, and Rypples. The investment underscores growing confidence in WSense’s patented technology that enables real-time data transmission from depths up to 3,000 meters using acoustic and optical communications.
Dual-Use Technology Attracts Strategic Capital
Founded as a Sapienza University spin-off by Professor Chiara Petrioli, WSense has developed what amounts to wifi for the ocean floor. Its wireless networks connect underwater sensors, autonomous vehicles, and robotic systems without cables, opening applications from offshore wind monitoring to submarine cable protection. “The entry of new investors like Indico Capital Partners and SIMEST represents strong recognition of our technology’s value and international growth strategy,” Petrioli said.
The dual-use nature of WSense’s technology particularly appeals to investors. Stephan de Moraes, Managing General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, noted the company “represents the best of Italian deep tech capabilities and opportunities emerging in ocean-related technologies.” With solid industrial partners including Fincantieri, Leonardo, and Saipem, WSense serves both commercial and defense applications.
Targeting a €10 Billion Subsea Market
WSense operates in a rapidly expanding sector. The global underwater domain is projected to reach €400 billion by 2030, with subsea communications alone accounting for €10 billion. Currently, 552 submarine cables spanning 1.4 million kilometers carry 98% of global digital traffic, yet continuous monitoring remains challenging without wireless infrastructure.
The company’s technology addresses this gap by creating mesh networks that adapt dynamically to changing sea conditions. Customers including Italy’s Ministry of Defense, the National Oceanography Centre, ENI, and A2A already deploy WSense systems for infrastructure surveillance, environmental monitoring, and energy transition projects. “We will accelerate development of our solutions for critical infrastructure protection and ocean conservation,” Petrioli added.
Vera Veri, Director of Equity Investments at SIMEST, emphasized alignment with Italy’s internationalization strategy and support for innovative deep-tech startups. The funding positions WSense to pursue aggressive international expansion, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, where offshore energy and marine conservation initiatives drive demand for real-time underwater data systems.
