ZEN Yachts confirms Series A funding round from Ocean Zero LLC & reveals the pre-sale of four ZEN50

by ZEN Yachts 1 Mar 2023 13:08 PST

ZEN50 catamarans © ZEN Yachts

Zen Yachts, manufacturer of groundbreaking solar-electric, emission-free catamarans, announces the closing of its EUR 5.5M Series A funding round subscribed solely by Ocean Zero LLC, a fund that invests in innovative young companies that can make a breakthrough difference in decarbonizing transportation on the world's oceans, rivers and seas.

"Ocean Zero seeks visionaries who have a realistic shot at making a significant leap in scale and impact to change the overall emissions of CO2 and other pollutants incurred by sea shipping, ferries and recreational boats," said Stephen Petranek, Operating Partner of the fund. Petranek is the former editor-in-chief of The Washington Post Magazine, the former editor-in-chief of the science magazine Discover, and the former editor-in-chief of the financial newsletter Breakthrough Technology Alert.

Ocean Zero's Managing Partner is Chris Anderson, Curator of the TED Conferences, and the TED Countdown initiative (www.ted.com/series/countdown) that seeks to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis.

"Decarbonizing sea transport and recreational boating no longer requires a leap in imaginative engineering and science. It's possible right now," Petranek said. "And time is running out. Boats produce more atmospheric CO2 each year than all the airlines in the world. This is a massive problem that has solutions that can be adopted immediately. We need innovative companies like Zen Yachts to lead us into the new world of boat electrification."

"This is a significant milestone for ZEN Yachts and we are honored to have received the trust and support of Ocean Zero and to be part of the amazing eco-system of seven other disruptive start-ups the fund has invested in. ZEN50 is the first high performance luxury catamaran yacht able to operate continuously, day and night, without a single drop of fossil fuel onboard. She is completely self-sufficient, relying only on sustainable sources of energy." said Naval Architect and ZEN50 designer Julien Mélot.

Zen Yachts will host the first ZEN Community Days on the 8th and 9th of June 2023, at their Headquarters in Barcelona. The open-door event will welcome all eco-yachting enthusiasts to meet the ZEN Team and visit the ZEN Lab where visitors will learn, see, and understand high technology solutions for decarbonizing boating, from ultra-lightweight construction to cutting-edge energy management and propulsion systems.

"This is a one-of-a-kind event where all eco-yachting enthusiasts and curious sailors alike will be welcomed at our headquarters. You can meet our Team and touch, see, and understand what we are capable of. We'll demonstrate the energy and propulsion system of the ZEN50, as well as details such as the yacht's ultra-lightweight interior. We will also show our guests production videos and celebrate our love for boating and the oceans." said Mélot.

The ZEN50 is designed from the keel up to be an exploration-oriented ocean-going solar electric yacht with unlimited range and class-leading performance thanks to its lightweight carbon fiber structure and a high-tech computer operated Wingsail from its partner the French company AYRO. Ocean Zero was the lead investor in AYRO's Series A raise last year.

The first four ZEN50 production slots have been reserved by discerning customers who value the importance of not leaving any carbon footprint in their wake and who cherish the freedom of a yacht that can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year without fossil fuel. ZEN's high quality carbon hulls will be manufactured by an industrial composites partner in the South of Spain that has an extensive track record in aerospace, aeronautics, and complex infrastructure composite projects. The outfitting and finishing of the yachts will be controlled directly by ZEN Staff in its assembly yards. This innovative modular approach offers flexibility, scalability, lower costs, and robust quality control.

After closing the Series-A funding round and with the first hulls under construction, ZEN Yachts intends to debut at the International Multihull Show, held from the 12th to 16th of April at La Grande Motte in France, followed by the Cannes Yachting Festival in September and shows in Barcelona and Fort Lauderdale in October.

ZEN50 Specifications: