Yachting Ventures launches new platform for marine startups and investors

Yachting Ventures (YV), the leading global platform for leisure marine startups, unveils its new all-in-one community platform and media-centric website. Marking its fourth anniversary, Yachting Ventures is launching its new community platform for leisure marine founders, featuring networking, 1-1 support, masterclasses, and specialised bootcamps, along with a brand new website.

Previously managed through a number of different SaaS tools, the community operations will now transition to a dedicated platform, ensuring a more seamless onboarding and user experience.

The YV community, specifically designed for founders in leisure marine, now boasts +160 global members. To better serve this growing network, YV is thrilled to announce the launch of a new, all-in-one community platform.

This new platform will also feature a fundraising bootcamp for founders interested in raising investment, as well as a Business Bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs.

A notable feature of the new Yachting Ventures platform is a dedicated investor login, offering streamlined access to deal flow opportunities. Vetted startups can upload their pitch decks and video pitches, which will be showcased in monthly investor newsletters reaching over 3,000 investors. In today’s challenging fundraising environment, this feature aims to facilitate crucial feedback and connections between startups and potential investors.

YV is committed to boosting startup visibility and growth with enhanced networking, support, and media exposure. These initiatives, paired with expanded event collaborations at major boat shows, are aimed at fostering the next generation of marine businesses.

Revamped media-focused website

Recognising the need for startups to build strong brands, effective communication strategies and a growth narrative, YV’s new website will prominently feature editorial content and videos, highlighting the milestones of the startups in the community, ensuring that their efforts are noticed. By facilitating media coverage and press features, YV ultimately aims to help startups secure partnerships, attract investors and drive commercialisation efforts.

The newly revamped website showcases startup milestones and drives media attention. With a comprehensive startup directory and targeted newsletters, allowing visitors to search for startups by location and vertical, YV says it elevates the profile and credibility of marine startups.

The breakdown of the YV audience of +20,000 across social and newsletters is currently 33 per cent investors, 22 per cent startup founders and 45 per cent industry players. As the following continues to grow, the aim is to leverage this reach and support startups through compelling and consistent storytelling. To this end, three new newsletters will be launched: an investor newsletter, a startup newsletter, and a comprehensive industry newsletter. These publications will keep the YV following informed and engaged with the latest developments and opportunities that are relevant to them and their priorities.

Continued emphasis on events

Events continue to be a cornerstone of the YV strategy. YV has been actively involved in key industry events, building start-up pavilions at the Palma Superyacht Village, Abu Dhabi International Boat Show, METSTRADE, and IBEX. These events align boat shows with innovation, draw media attention, and forge valuable relationships between startups and the broader industry.

Another focus has been hosting pitch competitions for startups to present their ideas to investors, both online and offline. YV now hosts a quarterly pitch competition attended by over 90 investors and industry professionals. In-person pitching events include those sponsored by Volvo Penta at the Miami International Boat Show and the Blue Innovation Dock at boot Düsseldorf.

Looking ahead, YV plans to expand event collaborations in 2025 and beyond, providing more platforms for startups to pitch their ideas, gain exposure, and connect with partners, customers, and investors. For more information about the community offerings, events, or to collaborate with Yachting Ventures, please email us at hello@yachtingventures.co