PortXL

PortXL is a global startup accelerator and innovation hub that was founded in 2015 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The organization's vision is to cultivate a spirit of innovation within the global maritime industry and change the way people think about it. PortXL provides a platform for startups, scale-ups, corporate partners, and mentors to work collaboratively to disrupt the status quo in the maritime industry.

PortXL's mission is to support and nurture innovative solutions that can drive the industry forward. The organization invests in startups and scale-ups that are working on cutting-edge technology and solutions that can address challenges faced by the industry or provide new opportunities for growth and innovation. PortXL has a set of investment criteria that it uses to evaluate potential investments, including relevance to the maritime industry, scalability, team quality, innovation, and financial viability.

PortXL's success in Rotterdam led to the launch of additional programs in Antwerp, Singapore, and Houston, Texas. These programs provide startups and scale-ups with access to industry expertise, funding, and resources to accelerate their growth and development. PortXL's diverse portfolio of companies reflects its commitment to supporting innovative solutions that can drive the maritime industry forward. The organization's collaborative approach to problem-solving and disruptive thinking is helping to shape the future of the maritime industry and ensure its sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

PortXL was founded in 2015 by Bart Galle, Don Ritzen, and Rutger van Zuidam. The company is a startup accelerator program based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It provides co-working spaces, mentoring, and other resources to help startups grow and scale. It has helped more than 200 startups since its founding and has raised over €100 million in funding.

PortXL's mission is to change the perception of the maritime industry and encourage a spirit of innovation. The organization is built on an ecosystem of startups, scale-ups, corporate partners, and mentors who work together to drive change and solve problems in the industry.

PortXL offers a 12-week accelerator program for startups. During the program, startups are offered resources such as workspace, mentorship, and access to investors and industry experts. The program culminates in a demo day, where startups present their ideas to investors and the public.

The accelerator also hosts events, such as the Shipping and Maritime Innovation Summit, in which industry experts and entrepreneurs come together to discuss the future of the maritime industry.

PortXL has also launched other programs, such as the PortXL Future Leaders Program, which helps to train and develop the next generation of leaders in the maritime industry. PortXL has established partnerships with companies such as Microsoft, Rabobank, and the Port of Rotterdam, which provide additional resources and mentorship to PortXL startups.

Since its inception, PortXL has grown to become a global platform that connects startups, investors, and corporate partners with expertise and resources in the maritime industry. The organization has helped over 100 startups and scale-ups to accelerate their growth and develop cutting-edge technology and solutions.

PortXL's success in Rotterdam led to the launch of additional programs in Antwerp, Singapore, and most recently, Houston, Texas. The organization's expansion has helped to establish it as a leading innovation hub in the maritime industry.

Today, PortXL continues to be at the forefront of maritime innovation and technology, attracting top talent and investors from around the world. The organization's commitment to collaborative problem-solving and disruptive thinking is helping to shape the future of the maritime industry and ensure its sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

PortXL focuses on nurturing innovation within the maritime industry. The organization supports startups and scale-ups in developing cutting-edge technology and solutions that can drive the industry forward. To ensure the best possible outcomes for all parties involved, PortXL has a set of investment criteria that it uses to evaluate potential investments.

• Relevance to the maritime industry: PortXL is primarily interested in startups and scale-ups that are working on solutions that can make a real difference to the maritime industry. These solutions should address challenges faced by the industry or provide new opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Scalability: PortXL looks for startups and scale-ups that have the potential for significant growth and scalability. The organization seeks to support companies that have the potential to become leaders in their respective markets and have a significant impact on the industry.
• Team: PortXL considers the quality of the team and the management's experience and skills as essential factors. The organization looks for teams with strong leadership skills, industry experience, and a passion for innovation.
• Innovation: PortXL is looking for innovative solutions that challenge the status quo and have the potential to disrupt traditional ways of doing business. The organization seeks to invest in companies with a unique value proposition and a clear competitive advantage.
• Financial viability: PortXL invests in startups and scale-ups that have a clear financial plan and a viable business model. The organization seeks to support companies that have a clear path to profitability and can deliver a return on investment to its partners.

By using these criteria, PortXL can select the most promising startups and scale-ups and support them in developing cutting-edge solutions that can drive the maritime industry forward. The organization's investment criteria help ensure that all parties involved can maximize their potential for success.

The PortXL values are a set of core values that are intended to guide the actions and behaviours of all PortXL members. The values include:

1. Embrace diversity: They strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where everyone is welcomed and respected.

2. Be creative: They are open to new ideas, and encourage exploration and experimentation.

3. Act with integrity: They act with honesty and respect for everyone in our community.

4. Take ownership: They take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and results.

5. Work hard, play hard: They work hard to achieve their goals but also recognize the importance of having fun.

6. Stay curious: They seek to continuously learn, grow, and develop themselves and their organization.

PortXL’s mission is to accelerate maritime innovation and foster collaboration between startups, established companies, investors, and academics from around the world. 

Through its network, PortXL helps innovators create, develop, and commercialize products and services that will shape the future of the maritime industry. It also aims to create a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration that will help drive innovation in the maritime sector.

The organization has a diverse portfolio of companies that are developing cutting-edge technology and solutions that can transform the industry. Here are some examples of companies in PortXL's portfolio:

• Grindstone: Grindstone is a cybersecurity company that specializes in protecting ships and ports from cyber threats. The company uses advanced technology to detect and prevent cyber-attacks on ships and ports.
• We4Sea: We4Sea is a company that provides data-driven solutions to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in the shipping industry. The company's technology uses ship data to optimize vessel performance and reduce fuel consumption.
• eOdyn: eOdyn is a company that provides real-time ocean data and analysis to improve vessel routing, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance safety. The company uses advanced sensors and machine learning to provide accurate and reliable ocean data.
• MARIOT: MARIOT is a company that provides an AI-powered platform for predicting ship movements and port arrivals. The platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze ship data and provide accurate predictions of ship movements and port arrivals.
• F-drones: F-drones is a company that specializes in drone delivery services for the maritime industry. The company's drones can deliver packages and spare parts to ships at sea, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming port visits.

These companies represent just a small sample of the startups and scale-ups in PortXL's portfolio. The organization's portfolio reflects its commitment to supporting innovative solutions that can drive the maritime industry forward. With its diverse portfolio of companies, PortXL is helping to shape the future of the maritime industry and ensure its sustainability in a rapidly changing world.