Hullbot named a World Economic Forum UpLink Venture in the Low-Carbon and Circular Systems Challenge

Hullbot has been named a winner of the World Economic Forum's UpLink Low-Carbon and Circular Systems Challenge. The challenge looks for startups whose solutions drive decarbonisation and circularity at the same time across global value chains.

Hullbot was selected in the Low-carbon products, processes and operations category. It joins a group of 12 UpLink Ventures working in areas such as battery recycling, clinker-free cement and building-material reuse. It is the only winner focused on maritime operations.

Tackling an overlooked source of maritime emissions

Biofouling (the accumulation of slime, algae and other marine organisms on a vessel's underwater surfaces) increases drag and forces vessels to use more fuel to maintain speed.

Traditional hull cleaning is often reactive, taking place only once fouling has become established. Hullbot takes a different approach: using autonomous underwater robots to regularly groom hulls before fouling develops into heavier growth.

By keeping hulls clean more consistently, vessels can maintain their hydrodynamic performance, reduce fuel consumption and lower associated emissions, without requiring changes to the vessel or disrupting normal operations.

To date, Hullbot has delivered more than 2,100 hull cleans, with the World Economic Forum reporting cumulative reductions of 2.7 million litres of marine diesel and 8.4 million kgCO₂e through August 2026.

“Being recognised by the World Economic Forum is a significant milestone for Hullbot and a strong validation of the problem we’re solving. Biofouling is a largely invisible source of wasted fuel and emissions across the global fleet, yet it is something we can address today with technology that works within existing vessel operations. We’re proud to be recognised alongside innovators tackling some of the world’s biggest resource and climate challenges, and we’re excited to keep scaling Hullbot to make cleaner, more efficient shipping the norm.”

Tom Loefler, CEO & Founder, Hullbot

From technology to measurable impact

For Hullbot, the recognition reinforces the opportunity to address maritime decarbonisation through technologies that can be deployed across the existing global fleet.

Hullbot currently works across the ferry and commercial shipping sectors, providing a fully managed hull-grooming service designed to fit around vessel operations. The company combines autonomous underwater robotics with regular inspection, cleaning and performance data to help operators understand and manage the impact of hull condition on vessel efficiency.

The World Economic Forum identified Hullbot alongside 11 other ventures selected for their potential to help scale low-carbon and circular systems. The Forum notes that the winning companies demonstrate how private-sector innovation can deliver practical solutions for decarbonisation and resource efficiency.

For Hullbot, the goal is straightforward: keep ships cleaner, keep them moving efficiently, and reduce the emissions associated with every voyage.

About the UpLink Low-Carbon and Circular Systems Challenge

UpLink is the World Economic Forum's early-stage innovation platform. It supports entrepreneurs building solutions for a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. This year's challenge covered three focus areas: intelligence, data and decision-making; low-carbon products, processes and operations; and circular products, materials and systems. The 12 winners come from Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and Africa.