PortXL has chosen eleven startups and scale-ups for its 2026 acceleration programme. They were selected from more than 250 applicants worldwide. Together they cover the three focus areas Maritime & Offshore, Energy & Infrastructure, and Dual Use.
‘PortXL’s second decade starts with a cohort that reflects where the sector is heading,’ says Koen Vogel, Director of PortXL. ‘Resilience, security and the energy transition are converging in the port and maritime sector, and these startups & scale-ups work right where they meet. Our shared goal over the coming weeks is to turn introductions into tangible value for both our partners and the founders.’
Also read: PortXL reveals startups for 2025 accelerator programme
Maritime & Offshore
Five companies fall under the category Maritime & Offshore. They are:
- Bluefins (France): Bluefins has developed a retrofittable auxiliary propulsion system for ships, shaped like a whale’s tail, that reduces fuel consumption by up to twenty per cent. The system is designed for all types of ocean-going vessels and targets a return on investment of three to five years.
- BioHalo (Denmark): BioHalo develops non-PFAS, biodegradable surface-modifying ingredients for coatings, including a biotech-based component for antifouling paint that could not previously be synthesised chemically and requires less energy to produce.
- Elnav (Croatia): Elnav builds human-in-the-loop maritime AI technology for the moments where onboard systems, procedures and professional judgement have to align, including active watchkeeping support, critical-procedure support and emergency leadership training.
- Marine Weather Intelligence (France): Marine Weather Intelligence provides weather routing and forecasting for shipping, offshore, heavy transport and towage, and yachts, aimed at reducing fuel use, emissions and operational risk.
- Shipsonic (the Netherlands): Shipsonic supplies ultrasonic antifouling technology that uses vibrations to keep ship hulls free of fouling without maintenance or chemicals, and is already in use by shipowners across the Netherlands.
Energy & Infrastructure
The Energy & Infrastructure candidates are:
- CLHYNN (France): CLHYNN has developed a fuel cell with its own integrated hydrogen source, built without rare metals, other critical raw materials or PFAS, positioned as a new form of decentralised energy.
- Meterspersecond (the Netherlands): Meterspersecond builds vertical wind turbines with double the energy density of conventional designs, developed as an alternative to diesel generators for powering dockside operations.
- PointCanvas (United Kingdom): PointCanvas turns 3D site scans of complex infrastructure into usable spatial insights within hours instead of weeks, and has already run a pilot in the Scottish oil and gas sector.
Also read: PortXL welcomes 10 start-ups and scale-ups
Dual Use
Three companies were selected in the category Dual Use:
- Aetherion Defence (Luxembourg): Aetherion Defence builds an EU-sovereign distributed radar mesh that detects low-altitude drones around ports, critical infrastructure and defence sites, using distributed sensors to reduce the risk of individual sensor failure.
- Cleardrop (France): Cleardrop keeps optical sensors clear of rain, snow, salt residue, sand and mud using acoustic waves and a small amount of power, allowing autonomous systems to keep operating in conditions that would otherwise blind them.
- Copsys (Canada): Copsys develops a digital, self-sensing coating for ship hulls and infrastructure that supports antifouling, corrosion detection and proactive maintenance, reducing the need for manual visual inspection.
The PortXL programme
Between 6 October and 3 December, the cohort comes together in Rotterdam for three separate programme weeks. Each week is focused on access to market, access to capital and building a network of peers and mentors. The founders work with PortXL’s mentors and explore opportunities with the lead programme partner, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and with innovation partners such as the Ministry of Defence and the Municipality of Rotterdam.
This year PortXL also welcomes new innovation partners, including Damen and Royal IHC. Together with the organisation’s industrial network, ecosystem and knowledge partners, they help the startups and scale-ups take the next step in their development, contributing to a more sustainable, resilient and efficient port and maritime industry.
Since 2015, 141 startups have taken part in PortXL. The programme’s alumni have a 76 per cent survival rate and have raised more than EUR 202 million in funding.
Picture: Koen Vogel presents PortXL’s 2026 cohort (photo PortXL).
Also read: PortXL adds MoD’s innovation hub MINDbase as a partner
