Alibaba-backed fund bets on Hong Kong-based robotics firm

Clearbot, a Hong Kong-based robotics startup, has raised an undisclosed seed amount to upgrade its self-driving ships.

Clearbot’s creators Sidhant Gupta (left) and Utkarsh Goel. / Photo credit: Clearbot

The round was led by Alibaba’s Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF), with participation from CarbonX Global.

Founded by University of Hong Kong students, Clearbot uses robot-as-a-service to automate various maritime services like trash collection, water quality monitoring, and cargo movement.

The funding will be used for product development to improve the robots’ operational efficiency in different conditions – like in extreme heat or very busy sea ports. They are also investing in research to turn data into insights for clients for compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Clearbot co-founder Sidhant Gupta said it plans to position itself as the largest fleet of electric ships in the world over the next 10 years. The startup wants to bring the same impact in the marine services industry as electric cars did to the automotive industry, he added.

Last June, Clearbot partnered with Razer to design Clearbot Neo, the firm’s primary commercially available model. Clearbot is expanding its presence with seven robots deployed across locations such as Hong Kong, India, and Panama.

See also: What it takes for Gojek to go entirely green