Eight Knot
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSakai, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Eight Knot firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eight Knot
- Legal name
- 株式会社エイトノット
- Website
- https://8kt.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eight Knot industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Autonomous Navigation Software
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Electrical Installation, Commissioning & Field Services (IMAJAJAL)
Keywords
Where Eight Knot is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sakai
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Eight Knot business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Autonomous Navigation Platform Licensing: Provides AI CAPTAIN autonomous navigation system as a modular platform that can be integrated into marine equipment and vessels. Revenue generated through licensing the technology to vessel operators, manufacturers, and shipyards.
- Retrofit Business: Integrating AI CAPTAIN into existing small vessels as a retrofit solution. The company enhances the retrofit business by integrating autonomous navigation into existing fleet vessels, tailoring product functions for various markets.
- Software Solutions to Marine Manufacturers: Providing software solutions to marine engine manufacturers, shipyards, and boat builders both in Japan and abroad, accelerating practical implementation of autonomous navigation technology.
- Demonstration Project Services: Participating in government-funded demonstration projects such as the Tokyo Bay eSG Project and Utilization Demonstration Project involving Autonomous Marine Unmanned Vehicles.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Eight Knot product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eight Knot develops and sells 'AI CAPTAIN,' an autonomous navigation platform for small and mid-sized vessels that automates the full voyage from departure to docking. The platform is offered as seven modular components (Control, Dynamics, Localization, Planning, Perception, Decision, Monitoring) that can be combined to meet varied vessel automation needs and are licensed to marine manufacturers, shipyards, and vessel operators for both new builds and retrofits.
Product overview
Eight Knot offers the AI CAPTAIN autonomous navigation platform, a modular architecture consisting of seven distinct modules (Control, Dynamics, Localization, Planning, Perception, Decision, Monitoring) that can be combined flexibly to address various functional needs. The platform enables autonomous navigation for small and mid-sized vessels, automating operations from departure to docking. The company provides intelligent technologies as modules that can be integrated into marine equipment and vessels. The modular design allows for scalable implementation from minimal autonomous navigation configuration to full autonomous operation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN Autonomous navigation platform for small and mid-sized vessels that automates the full voyage from departure to docking. Combines seven modular components (Control, Dynamics, Localization, Planning, Perception, Decision, Monitoring) to deliver autonomous ship operation, collision avoidance, route optimization, and remote monitoring. Licensed to vessel operators, marine manufacturers, and shipyards for new builds and retrofit installations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced crew burden through practical application of autonomous vessels
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Eight Knot
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Eight Knot technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Eight Knot partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Hub AzulminorSelected for HUB AZUL Acceleration Program, Portugal's blue economy accelerator. Program provides real maritime infrastructure as testbed for developing, validating, and scaling maritime technology solutions.
- CitySage Sdn BhdcoreSigned MOU to explore business partnership. CitySage provides AI-powered urban intelligence integrating climate risk, infrastructure, and socioeconomic data. Both companies selected for Mitsubishi Corporation challenge at Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025. Plans for joint POC trials in Malaysian waters including Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)majorSelected for Manufacturingtech & Hardtech track in Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP). Eight Knot receives support for North American market research, collaboration partner exploration, and investor/customer network building.
- E-Force Marine Inc.coreJoint pilot project to integrate AI CAPTAIN onto electric boat for performance evaluation at test site in Florida. Both companies' engineering teams oversee hardware installation, system calibration, data acquisition, and UI/UX validation. E-Force Marine hosts test rides for employees and customers.
- Seika Daiya Engine Co., Ltd.majorFormed capital and business alliance in July 2023.
- National Institute of Technology, Hiroshima CollegecoreCommenced joint research in June 2021 to develop autonomous navigation technology.
- Creation Marine Co., Ltd.minorListed as partner on company website.
- eboat-sales Co., Ltd.minorListed as partner on company website.
- Marine-X Co., Ltd.minorListed as partner on company website.
- Hiroshima College of Maritime TechnologyminorListed as partner on company website.
- Daiya Engineering Co., Ltd.minorListed as partner on company website.
- Mitsubishi CorporationmajorBoth Eight Knot and CitySage were selected for Mitsubishi Corporation's challenge statement at Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025, with Eight Knot winning the Mitsubishi Corporation Award.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Eight Knot competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Furuno Electric: Japanese marine electronics leader in radar, sonar, GNSS, and navigation equipment for both merchant and small craft markets. Most direct domestic incumbent to Eight Knot, with deep distribution into Japanese shipyards and boat builders that AI CAPTAIN modules must sell through.
Broad incumbents
- Wärtsilä: Marine technology and engine manufacturer offering SmartShip autonomous and digital vessel solutions, including route optimization and remote monitoring. Represents a broader incumbent competing for the same OEM integration budgets Eight Knot is targeting.
- Kongsberg Maritime: Global marine technology incumbent offering integrated automation, navigation, and dynamic positioning systems, and partner in the Yara Birkeland autonomous container ship project. Represents the largest potential competitor in vessel autonomy with established shipyard and offshore relationships.
- ABB Marine & Ports: Global provider of automation, navigation, and electric propulsion systems for ships. Overlaps with Eight Knot in vessel control, automation, and modular software architectures, particularly as ABB pushes into autonomous and remote-control operations.
- Hyundai Avikus: Hyundai Heavy Industries' autonomous vessel subsidiary that has demonstrated large-scale autonomous ship navigation (including the Avikus Prism Courage across the Atlantic). Competes with Eight Knot in autonomous vessel technology but with vastly greater shipyard backing and capital.
Direct peers
- Maritime Robotics: Norwegian provider of autonomous navigation and remote-control technology for small USVs and surface vessels, with strong overlap in state estimation, route generation, and vessel control modules. Targets similar commercial and government customers in Europe, paralleling Eight Knot's Japanese focus.
- Sea Machines Robotics: Boston-based developer of autonomous command and control systems for commercial vessels, with comparable AI-driven situational awareness, route planning, and remote monitoring functionality for workboats. Direct competitor to Eight Knot's AI CAPTAIN platform, particularly in retrofit use cases.
Others
- FullDepth: Japanese partner and developer of underwater drones (AUVs/ROVs) using Eight Knot's ASV for offshore wind inspection demonstrations. Functions as both an integration partner and adjacent unmanned maritime technology provider in the Japanese ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Buffalo Automation: US startup developing AI-based autonomous navigation for small commercial vessels, including water taxis and ferries, directly overlapping Eight Knot's sightseeing and water taxi customer segments in the North American market.
- Open Ocean Robotics: Canadian developer of solar-powered autonomous surface vessels with onboard sensors for maritime domain awareness. Comparable to Eight Knot in deploying autonomous small vessels for commercial and government use cases outside Asia.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Eight Knot social profiles
Digital presenceEight Knot financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eight Knot leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Eight Knot funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eight Knot M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eight Knot
What does Eight Knot do?
Eight Knot develops and sells 'AI CAPTAIN,' an autonomous navigation platform for small and mid-sized vessels that automates the full voyage from departure to docking. The platform is offered as seven modular components (Control, Dynamics, Localization, Planning, Perception, Decision, Monitoring) that can be combined to meet varied vessel automation needs and are licensed to marine manufacturers, shipyards, and vessel operators for both new builds and retrofits.
Is Eight Knot a public or private company?
Eight Knot is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Eight Knot founded?
Eight Knot was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eight Knot based?
Eight Knot is headquartered in Sakai, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Eight Knot make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Autonomous Navigation Platform Licensing is the primary driver. The others are retrofit Business, software Solutions to Marine Manufacturers and demonstration Project Services.
Who are Eight Knot's main competitors?
Furuno Electric is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Wärtsilä, Kongsberg Maritime, ABB Marine & Ports and Hyundai Avikus. Direct peers are Maritime Robotics and Sea Machines Robotics. FullDepth is listed as an others. Emerging players are Buffalo Automation and Open Ocean Robotics.
Does Eight Knot have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eight Knot.
What industry is Eight Knot in?
Eight Knot's product category is Maritime Autonomous Navigation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAJAL, Marine Electrical Installation, Commissioning & Field Services. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.