Vesper Marine
Vesper Marine is a New Zealand-based designer of AIS, VHF, and vessel monitoring electronics for the recreational and small-commercial marine market, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Auckland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vesper Marine does
Vesper Marine is a New Zealand-based designer and provider of marine electronics, specializing in Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, VHF radio equipment, and vessel monitoring hardware and software. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Auckland, the company serves the recreational and small-commercial marine market with safety and situational-awareness technology used onboard vessels. Its product surface spans AIS collision-avoidance transceivers, VHF communications, and integrated monitoring systems that allow remote visibility into vessel status — positioning the company in a narrow but regulated sub-segment of marine electronics.
The company operates as a private for-profit business with a headcount of 11-50 employees. Its underlying technology combines RF hardware (AIS/VHF transceivers and antennas) with software for vessel monitoring and data display, though specific proprietary features, software architecture, and IP depth are not detailed in the supplied data. No direct customer logos, pricing tiers, or distributor relationships are disclosed, so the precise go-to-market mix (direct-to-consumer, OEM, dealer network) cannot be confirmed from the evidence.
Vesper Marine has raised capital across four discrete events between 2016 and 2020, including rounds led by GD1 (Global From Day One), an investment from Flying Kiwi Angels, and an NZ$117,598 grant from Callaghan Innovation. Disclosed capital is modest in dollar terms, and no revenue, ARR, or customer-count figures are available. The business model is therefore best characterized as a niche hardware-plus-monitoring vendor with a long-tail of vessel customers, supported by periodic outside capital and government R&D funding rather than large enterprise contracts.
Vesper Marine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vesper Marine
- Legal name
- Not available - source data is from Garmin's website, not Vesper Marine
- Website
- https://vespermarine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vesper Marine is a New Zealand-based designer of AIS, VHF, and vessel monitoring electronics for the recreational and small-commercial marine market, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Auckland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vesper Marine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Electronics
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marine Safety & Navigation Electronics Retail (PFDs, EPIRBs, GPS, VHF) (CRAMAIAH)
Keywords
Where Vesper Marine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Markets served
Vesper Marine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Vesper Marine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vesper Marine designs, manufactures, and sells marine electronics including Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, VHF marine radios, and vessel monitoring systems. The company's products are aimed at the marine industry for boat safety, communication, and tracking purposes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AIS Transponders
- VHF Marine Radios
- Vessel Monitoring Systems
Companies that use Vesper Marine
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Vesper Marine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vesper Marine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalExpansion highlights3 records
Vesper Marine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Garmin: Global leader in marine electronics (chartplotters, radar, AIS, VHF) and consumer GPS. Directly competes with Vesper Marine in AIS and VHF categories but as part of a much broader wearables, aviation, and outdoor portfolio.
- Furuno: Established Japanese marine electronics manufacturer specializing in radar, sonar, navigation, and AIS. Direct overlap with Vesper Marine in AIS and marine communication equipment, particularly in commercial and fishing segments.
Emerging players
- Digital Yacht: UK-based specialist in marine navigation, AIS, and connectivity electronics. Closely comparable in scale and product focus to Vesper Marine, targeting recreational and light-commercial boaters with AIS, NMEA, and vessel monitoring.
Direct peers
- ICOM: Specialist VHF marine radio manufacturer with strong presence in commercial and recreational boating. Directly competes with Vesper Marine in fixed-mount and handheld marine VHF, including AIS-enabled models.
- Raymarine (FLIR Systems): Marine electronics specialist offering chartplotters, radar, AIS, and VHF. Sells overlapping AIS and vessel-monitoring products to the same recreational and light-commercial boating customers as Vesper Marine.
- ACR Electronics: Manufacturer of marine safety electronics including EPIRBs, AIS, and locator beacons. Competes in adjacent marine safety categories and overlaps with Vesper Marine on AIS-based distress and monitoring products.
- Ocean Signal: Marine safety and communication electronics manufacturer producing EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, and VHF products. Direct competitor in the marine safety electronics niche where Vesper Marine operates.
- Standard Horizon (Yaesu): Marine VHF and AIS manufacturer (subsidiary of Yaesu). Directly competes with Vesper Marine's VHF and AIS product lines in the recreational marine market.
- B&G (Navico / Brunswick): Sailboat-focused marine electronics brand offering chartplotters, AIS, VHF, and instruments. Overlaps with Vesper Marine in AIS and vessel monitoring for sailing applications.
- Simrad (Navico / Brunswick): Marine electronics brand under Navico/Brunswick covering chartplotters, sonar, AIS, and VHF. Competes head-to-head with Vesper Marine across AIS transponders and integrated marine safety electronics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Vesper Marine social profiles
Digital presenceVesper Marine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vesper Marine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vesper Marine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vesper Marine 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 Vesper Marine
What does Vesper Marine do?
Vesper Marine designs, manufactures, and sells marine electronics including Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, VHF marine radios, and vessel monitoring systems. The company's products are aimed at the marine industry for boat safety, communication, and tracking purposes.
When was Vesper Marine founded?
Vesper Marine was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vesper Marine based?
Vesper Marine is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
Who are Vesper Marine's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Garmin and Furuno. Digital Yacht is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are ICOM, Raymarine (FLIR Systems), ACR Electronics, Ocean Signal, Standard Horizon (Yaesu), B&G (Navico / Brunswick) and Simrad (Navico / Brunswick).
Does Vesper Marine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vesper Marine.
What industry is Vesper Marine in?
Vesper Marine's product category is Marine Electronics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAJAE, Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS), with a secondary code of CRAMAIAH, Marine Safety & Navigation Electronics Retail (PFDs, EPIRBs, GPS, VHF). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3670.