Tethys Robotics wins CHF 150,000 to enable automated inspection in rough waters
25.09.2023
With the development of the world’s first underwater drone that can operate autonomously in all waters including very harsh conditions, Tethys Robotics offers a solution to professionals who want to complete their tasks safely, reliably, and efficiently, and reduce the risk for divers. The startup was awarded CHF 150,000 by Venture Kick, winning the third stage of the program.
 Tethys Robotics co-founders: Andrej Studer (Mapping Lead), Pragash Sivananthaguru (COO), Jonas Wüst (CEO), and Johannes Lienhart (CTO)
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Today, the most common method to search and recover objects and people underwater is to use professional divers, who accept the risks of permanent or lethal damage. Their work is loaded with danger and difficulty including decompression sickness, carbon dioxide toxicity, drowning, exposure to cold, nitrogen narcosis, and significant psychological and physical stress. These fundamental risks can be traced back to the challenges faced by the underwater industry, such as poor visibility, fast-flowing waters, and high personnel demands.
Tethys targets the industrial inspection and search and rescue segments with a combined and estimated annual potential of USD 8+ billion. The market demand is driven by the increasing need for renewable energy solutions (137,500 new offshore wind turbines until 2050) and applications for autonomous oceanographic exploration and inspection. Based on relationships with authorities in Europe, Tethys Robotics developed the world's only underwater drone with a VR-enabled user interface that can operate autonomously in all waters and recover objects up to 300m deep in harsh conditions, finally enabling operations in strong water flows with poor visibility. By this means, it will greatly contribute to mitigating significant risks divers face every day while drastically reducing the needed personnel involved in underwater work.
The startup will invest CHF 150,000 towards enhancing the business development initiatives. This shall allow to accelerate the completion of pilot programs with first customers, as well as increase the international demonstration and promotion of the company.
The team has been working together for five years and consists of Co-founder and project manager Jonas Wüst, Co-founder and operations lead Pragash Sivananthaguru, and Co-founders Andrej Studer, Johannes Lienhart, Bastian Schildknecht, Florin Kümin and Gallus Kaufmann. Together they are an interdisciplinary team that brings everything to take underwater robotics into a new era.
Jonas Wüst said about Venture Kick: “Since we started, we have had the opportunity to hone our pitching skills at the Kickers Camp, which enabled us to secure sufficient funding to move forward with our product and business development. At the same time, we were able to launch several pilots with early adopters, whose feedback allowed us to make an informed decision on our market entry strategy. By winning the Venture Kick, we now have the means and the financial support to bring Swiss underwater robotics onto the international stage.”
Tethys targets the industrial inspection and search and rescue segments with a combined and estimated annual potential of USD 8+ billion. The market demand is driven by the increasing need for renewable energy solutions (137,500 new offshore wind turbines until 2050) and applications for autonomous oceanographic exploration and inspection. Based on relationships with authorities in Europe, Tethys Robotics developed the world's only underwater drone with a VR-enabled user interface that can operate autonomously in all waters and recover objects up to 300m deep in harsh conditions, finally enabling operations in strong water flows with poor visibility. By this means, it will greatly contribute to mitigating significant risks divers face every day while drastically reducing the needed personnel involved in underwater work.
The startup will invest CHF 150,000 towards enhancing the business development initiatives. This shall allow to accelerate the completion of pilot programs with first customers, as well as increase the international demonstration and promotion of the company.
The team has been working together for five years and consists of Co-founder and project manager Jonas Wüst, Co-founder and operations lead Pragash Sivananthaguru, and Co-founders Andrej Studer, Johannes Lienhart, Bastian Schildknecht, Florin Kümin and Gallus Kaufmann. Together they are an interdisciplinary team that brings everything to take underwater robotics into a new era.
Jonas Wüst said about Venture Kick: “Since we started, we have had the opportunity to hone our pitching skills at the Kickers Camp, which enabled us to secure sufficient funding to move forward with our product and business development. At the same time, we were able to launch several pilots with early adopters, whose feedback allowed us to make an informed decision on our market entry strategy. By winning the Venture Kick, we now have the means and the financial support to bring Swiss underwater robotics onto the international stage.”