Startups Step Into India's Maritime Spotlight

Emerging maritime technologies converged in Mumbai as ports, policy makers and startups showcased solutions for a new India at Maritime Week 2025 writes Upendra Kasbekar.

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India Maritime Week 2025, held in Mumbai, underscored the growing strategic weight of the maritime sector in India’s economic and security landscape. The event brought together policy makers, port authorities, public-sector undertakings, private terminal operators, shipbuilders, logistics players, technology providers and startups, reinforcing the government's intent to modernise the maritime ecosystem through technology-led interventions.

Beyond its scale, the exhibition reflected a clear shift in priorities. Digitisation of port operations, asset life-cycle management, safety and surveillance, automation and sustainability dominated discussions and exhibits. Public-sector ports outlined capacity expansion and modernisation roadmaps aligned with India’s port-led development agenda, while private operators highlighted efficiency-driven infrastructure models and integrated logistics platforms. The presence of defence and maritime security agencies further reinforced the sector's strategic dimension.

What emerged clearly was that India’s maritime growth narrative is no longer defined only by ships, berths and terminals. Increasingly, it is shaped by electronics, robotics, sensors, software platforms and intelligent systems that operate above and below the waterline, enabling safer, more efficient and more predictable maritime operations.

WHY STARTUPS MATTER

A notable shift at Maritime Week 2025 was the growing prominence of startups within a sector traditionally dominated by large public-sector entities and global system integrators. Startups are no longer peripheral participants; they are increasingly viewed as enablers of specialised technologies that address clearly defined operational gaps. In the maritime domain, areas such as underwater inspection, asset monitoring, surveillance and disaster response demand focused engineering solutions rather than broad, one-size-fits-all platforms.