Sea-Flux secures NZD $3 million to expand vessel software globally
Sea-Flux has raised nearly NZD $3 million in strategic investment to support its international growth and development of cloud-based vessel management software.
The funding round was led by Punakaiki Fund and included participation from existing shareholders. The investment is expected to enable Sea-Flux to expand further across New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. It will also support the streamlining of customer onboarding, international sales activities, and continued product development.
Product and vision
Sea-Flux offers a cloud-based vessel management application, which allows maritime operators to consolidate compliance, safety, maintenance, and crew management processes in one mobile-first system. The software, accessible on smartphones and tablets, has offline capabilities and is designed to help crews reduce operational costs, minimise risks and lower administrative workload, differentiating itself from conventional server-based solutions.
The company's founder and former superyacht skipper, Tai Ellis, created the product out of a desire to address inefficiencies he experienced at sea. Tai Ellis explained the company's motivation and future direction by stating:
"Our vision has always been to make vessel operations safer, smarter, and more connected. This funding accelerates our ability to expand the global reach of New Zealand-built technology."
Milestones and management
Managing Director Phil Martin described the capital raise as an important step for the business. He commented:
"From a family-driven idea to an international growth story, we now have the resources to scale our onboarding and global reach with a customer-centric service and optimised experience."
Sea-Flux's early development involved the support of Ellis's parents, Vaughan Ellis and Sharon Brechelt, who were instrumental in showcasing the product to prospective customers and helping drive initial adoption.
User base and recognition
Sea-Flux is now used by over 9,000 users, managing more than 1,300 vessels. The system is utilised by a wide range of maritime operators, including coastguards, harbour authorities, tug and barge operators, fishing and aquaculture fleets, ferry services, tourism operators, superyacht owners and commercial operators globally.
The company's technology received the Innovation Award for Electronic and Electrical Systems from the European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMA) at Seawork Expo in Southampton, England, which is regarded as Europe's largest commercial vessel exhibition.
Investor perspective
Punakaiki Fund's Investment Manager, Cormac McCullough, praised the Sea-Flux team and underlined the significance of the company's product in the maritime sector. He stated:
"Tai and the Sea-Flux team have built a business we've admired for a while. We're delighted to welcome them into the 2040 Ventures fold.
"The global commercial maritime sector is an enormous market with scope for innovation. Tai and his team bring years of experience with a deep understanding of their customers and what they value. The resulting product is absolutely best in class, and it brings genuine benefits to vessel owners and operators globally."
Tom Culley, Head of Investor Relations at 2040 Ventures, which manages the Punakaiki Fund, explained that the investment in Sea-Flux was enabled by the Active Investor Plus Visa programme. Culley noted that investor migrants had contributed over NZD $10 million across the fund's managed investments, which has in turn fostered investment into high-growth New Zealand companies.
