Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Innovation and Maritime Startups
The Master in Maritime Innovation and StartupsThis program prepares you to lead the transformation of the maritime sector through entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. Learn to identify business opportunities, develop scal
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts14 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Innovation and Maritime Startups?
The Master in Maritime Innovation and Startups
This program prepares you to lead the transformation of the maritime sector through entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. Learn to identify business opportunities, develop scalable models, and apply emerging technologies in a globalized environment. Master the tools for startup funding, managing high-performance teams, and developing digital marketing strategies focused on the maritime market.
This program prepares you to lead the transformation of the maritime sector through entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.
Differentiating Advantages
- Mentoring with Experts: Access the experience of leading entrepreneurs and investors in the maritime sector.
- Development of Real Projects: Work on practical case studies and launch your own startup with the program's support.
- International Networking: Connect with professionals, investors, and companies from around the world.
- Funding and Acceleration: Opportunities to present your project to investors and access acceleration programs.
- Agile Methodology: Learn to validate ideas, iterate prototypes, and quickly adapt your business model to the market.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Start date
26-11-2026
Programme highlights
- Develop Your Startup: Learn to identify opportunities in the maritime sector and validate your business model.
- Innovation Strategies: Master agile methodologies and key tools for the digital transformation of the sector.
- Financing and Investment: Access expert mentors and learn to present your project to investors and specialized funds.
- Maritime Networking: Connect with leading professionals, successful entrepreneurs, and innovative companies in the sector.
- Launch Your Project: Turn your idea in a viable startup and contribute to the evolution of the maritime ecosystem.
- Boost your career and lead innovation in the maritime sector with our specialized master's program.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
The Martech Ecosystem and the Digital Transformation of the Blue Economy
- Overview of the Martech Sector: Global Map of Startups, Maritime Innovation Hubs (Singapore, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Algeciras) and Emerging Vertical
- Detection of structural frictions in the maritime sector: inefficiencies in the supply chain, times of stay in port, fuel consumption and documentary bureaucracy
- The Sustainable Blue Economy Blue Economy: Integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14) in the maritime entrepreneurship theses
- Disruptive technologies applied to navigation and logistics: generative AI, satellite IoT, automation, blockchain and digital twins
- Mapping of actors and interlocutors of the maritime industry: shipowners, terminalists, port authorities, freight forwarders, brokers and shipyards as corporate clients
- Global Corporate Initiatives and Accelerators: Port Acceleration Models, University Incubators and Open Innovation Platforms
- Technological adoption culture and entry barriers: overcoming risk aversion in a traditional and ultra-regulated industry
- Megatrend analysis: decarbonisation, high sea connectivity, maritime cybersecurity and ship autonomy (Mass)
- Regulation and innovation: how to adapt the technological value proposition to the IMO opinions (IMO), the European Commission and Flag Administrations
- Consolidated Unicorn and Startup Case Studies: Analysis of Success Models in Route Optimisation, Digital Markets and Load Traceability
02
Agile methodologies, ideation and validation of the maritime business model
- Application of Customer Development and Lean Startup to the B2B Maritime Sector: Processes of Interviews with Captains, Superintendents and Directors of Operations
- Design of the value proposition in complex environments: Mapping of pains, profits and tasks of the corporate client (Job-to-be-done)
- Construction of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) MarTech: Fast Prototyping of Maritime Software, Bridge Interfaces and Embedded Hardware
- Technical validation and field testing (PILOTS & PROOF OF CONCEPT - POC): methodologies for coordinating tests on board ships in navigation and operating terminals
- Pricing Strategy for Maritime Startups: Subscription Models (SaaS), Pay-Per-Use, Transaction Commission and Pricing Based on Fuel Savings (Gain-Share)
- Design of the Business Model Canvas adapted to the maritime economy: Structure of operating costs on board vs. on land and key industry alliances
- UNIT ECONOMICS STRESS TESTS: Calculation of the Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Lifetime Value (LTV) and B2B Sales Cycle Times
- Strategic pivot in the MarTech sector: Identification of signals from the maritime market to redirect the product before the exhaustion of cash
- Design of Integrated Services (Productized Services): Combination of naval technical consulting with scalable technological platforms
- Traction metrics and Product-Market Fit (PMF): specific indicators to assess the interest of shipping companies and port operators
03
Open Innovation, Venture Client and Corporate Relations in the Maritime Sector
- Open Innovation Models in the Port Industry and Shipping Company: Corporate Hackathons, Innovation Challenges and Coincubation Programs
- The Venture Client: How to Sell Technology to Large Maritime Corporations as an Early Phase Customer Without Ceding Capital
- Management of the B2B Maritime Sales Cycle: Navigation of Complex Organisation Charts in Shipping Companies Family, Multinational and Port Public Entities
- Drafting and negotiation of pilot agreements (POC Agreements): definition of KPIs of success, on-board safety responsibilities and cost assumption
- Integration of startups in the corporate supply chain: supplier approval, ESG compliance requirements and cybersecurity audits
- Technological co-creation between startups and shipyards/terminals - development of automation solutions and industrial infrastructure
- Strategies for overcoming regulatory and port "sandboxes": Leverage of controlled test areas in commercial ports
- Construction of consortiums for maritime R&D projects - alliances between startups, naval technology centres and multinationals for public funds
- Management of internal resistance to change: Change Management strategies for the implementation of new tools on board and in chartering offices
- Strategic Alliance Case Studies: Analysis of Successful Startup Software Integrations in Traditional Maritime ERP Systems
04
Deeptech Maritime: Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchain and Digital Twins
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Applied to Navigation: Optimal Route Prediction, Bunker Consumption and Engine Predictive Maintenance
- IoT and sensory boarding: on-board sensor networks, real-time data acquisition and low-latency satellite connectivity (LEO)
- Digital twins (digital twins) of ships and ports: simulation of structural behaviour, hydrodynamics and traffic flows in terminals
- Blockchain and DLT in maritime logistics: digitization of bill of lading (Electronic Bill of Lading - EBL), smart contracts and customs
- Marine Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles: Submarine Drones (ROVS/AUVS) for Inspection of Autonomous Surface Hulls and Boats (USVS)
- Computer vision applied to maritime safety: automatic detection of robberies, personal protection equipment (EPIS) and water spills
- Cybersecurity in Martech Architectures: Protection of Operational Information Systems (OT) on board and compliance with IMO Guidelines
- Big data and prescriptive analytics in the freight market: AIS, satellite and commercial data processing for financial decision making
- Maritime Industrial Hardware Development: Marine Grade Specifications, IP68/ATEX Certifications and Vibration and Salinity Testing
- Cloud and Edge Computing infrastructure on the high seas: on-board data processing vs. ground synchronisation with limited bandwidth
05
Maritime cleantech, decarbonisation and new propulsion technologies
- The Challenge of Maritime Decarbonisation: IMO Objectives, EU Regulations (EU ETS, Fueleu Maritime) and Indicators IIC and EEXI
- Startups in alternative fuels and energy vectors: green methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, biofuels and on-board carbon capture (OCCS)
- Assisted Wind Propulsion Technologies (WASP): Rigid sails, Flettner rotors, kites and their integration into modern naval design
- Electrification of ports and ships - grounding systems (cold ironing), marine batteries and clean energy supply chains
- Energy efficiency in the hull and underwater hull: air lubrication, advanced coatings and robotics for the cleaning of inlays (biofouling)
- Carbon emission rights management and monetization: maritime carbon credit trading platforms and real-time emissions tracking
- Speed and Manoeuvre Optimisers (Just-in-Time Arrival): Algorithms for emission reduction through port-ship coordination
- Circularity and recycling of maritime assets - technologies for the monitoring of the inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) and valorization of components
- Ecotoxicology and control of accidental contamination: technological solutions for ballast water monitoring, exhaust gases (scrubbers) and waste
- Green Financing Models for Cleantech: Energy Transition Grants, Climate Innovation Funds and Maritime Green Bonds
06
Legal framework, intellectual property and naval certification for startups
- Legal structuring of technology startups: Partner agreements, Stock types, Stock Options plans (Stock Options) and Vestings
- Protection of intellectual property in the maritime industrial sector - patents on naval inventions, industrial designs and commercial secret
- Protection of data and software in international environments: B2B software licences, ownership of data generated on board and data governance AIS
- Approval and certification process by classification companies: DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register and Bureau Veritas requirements for software and hardware
- Technological maritime commercial contracts: Drafting of service level agreements (SLA), SaaS B2B licences and liability for software failures
- International Maritime Regulatory and Regulatory Compliance: Product Adaptation to SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW and MLC Conventions
- AI governance and ethics in autonomous systems: legal implications of decisions made by algorithms on the bridge
- International trademark strategy in the maritime sector: registration of trademarks in multiple jurisdictions and protection of strategic domains
- International trade regulations and sanctions: export of dual-use technology, restriction lists and compliance in freight operations
- Dispute resolution mechanisms in the Martech field: Maritime Arbitration (LMAA) vs. Ordinary Commercial Jurisdiction in Technology
07
Maritime startup financing: Venture Capital, VC Corporate and Public Aid
- The financing map for Martech startups: from the pre-seed/seed phases to the growth rounds (Series A and B) in the maritime sector
- Venture Capital Specialised in the Blue Economy: Analysis of Fund Investment Thesis Blue Economy, ClimateTech and LogisticsVC
- Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) in the maritime sector: strategic investment by large shipping companies, terminal operators and logistics
- Startup Strategies for Due Diligence: Technical, Legal, Financial and Intellectual Data Room Preparation
- Early-stage startup valuation: Valuation methods (Scorecard, Berkus, adapted discounted cash flows) in industrial markets
- Term Sheet and Investor Rights Negotiation: Anti-dilution clauses, drag rights (drag-along), accompaniment (tag-along) and council positions
- Public financing and incentives for R&D&I maritime: Horizon Europe programmes, EU innovation funds, PERTE projects and national subsidies
- Alternative Debt and Impact Instruments: Venture Debt, Convertible Loans and Income-Based Financing
- The role of business angels and family offices in the Shipowner sector: raising intelligent capital with integrated industrial contact network
- Exit Strategies (Exit Strategies): Corporate acquisitions by maritime giants, mergers and exits to specialised stock markets
08
B2B sales strategy, industrial marketing and international scalability
- Go-to-market (GTM) strategy in the maritime industry: customer segmentation between fleet shipowners, naval managers (ship managers) and shippers
- Structure of the maritime B2B sales team: hybrid profiles between naval engineers, merchant marines and technology account executives
- Inbound Marketing and Thought Leadership (Thought Leadership) Industrial: Preparing Industry Reports, Technical Whitepapers and Trade Show Presence (SMM, Posidonia)
- Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Strategy for Corporate Accounts: Customized Campaigns to Capture the Large Global Fleet Operators
- Managing Pilot Concept Tests and Conversion to Commercial Contracts: Methodologies to Transform Free POCs into Annual Payment Licenses
- Customer Success B2B in high sea environments: 24/7 technical support, crew training and software adoption monitoring
- Strategies for rapid expansion and internationalization: opening of locations in key maritime nodes (Singapore, London, Rotterdam, Houston)
- Construction of distribution channels and strategic alliances - reseller agreements with distributors of naval electronics and system integrators
- Communication and public relations strategy in the maritime sector: management of the reputation of the brand in specialised press and newsletters of the sector
- Optimisation of renewal and up-selling cycles: expansion of the number of ships connected by customer and cross-selling of new modules
09
Leadership, Talent Management and Operations in Martech Startups
- Organisational design and culture in industrial impact startups: Attraction and retention of talent at the intersection between technology and the sea
- Creation of multidisciplinary teams: fruitful integration of software developers, data scientists, naval and marine engineers with command experience
- Executive leadership in high uncertainty environments: objective management methodologies (OKRS) and key performance metrics
- Management of remote and international teams: coordination between central office personnel, developers and field technicians in remote ports
- Incentive and remuneration systems: design of ESOP plans, bonuses for traction milestone and commission for closing of corporate contracts
- Management of the Board of Directors: Investor Relations, Preparation of Monthly Reporting and Strategic Vision Alignment
- Governance and culture of safety: implementation of high standards of occupational risk prevention in field operations and on-board testing
- Operational resilience and crisis management: technology failure response protocols in ships in navigation or computer security gaps
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Policies in a Traditional Sector: Strategies to Promote Diversity in Technical and Managerial Profiles
- Scaling up methodologies: Managing rapid growth of the workforce maintaining agility and founding values
10
Capstone Project: Venture Building (Martech Startup and Pitch)
- Definition of the business opportunity and entrepreneurship thesis: Selection of the specific maritime problems (decarbonisation, logistics, operations, AI or security)
- Development of the value proposition and initial validation: interviews with industry actors, design of the product architecture and definition of the business model
- Construction of the functional prototype or specification of the MVP: development of navigable software models, IoT architectures or initial predictive models
- Market Entry Strategy Design (Go-To-Market): Corporate Customer Recruitment Plan, B2B Pricing and Pilot Deployment Strategy
- Preparation of the financial plan at 3 and 5 years: Income projection, structure of personnel and infrastructure costs, cash needs and Unit Economics
- Intellectual Property Strategy and Naval Certification: Patent Roadmap, Software Licenses and Homologation Plan with Classification Societies
- Design of the fundraising strategy: Identification of target investors, structure of the target round (pre-seed/seed) and use of funds
- Preparation of the data room and the documentation for investors: Drafting of the Executive Summary, editable financial model and previous legal agreements
- Elabouration of the professional Pitch Deck Investment: Problem narrative design, solution, market size (TAM-SAM-SOM), equipment, traction and competition
- Presentation and defence of the project in Demo Day: oral presentation of the project before a jury of investors of Venture Capital, managers of CVC maritime and sector mentors
11
Master’s Final Project in Innovation and Maritime Startups
- Choice of topic and definition of the research problem
- Formulation of objectives, hypotheses and scope of work
- Review of the state of the art and specialised bibliography
- Analysis of the applicable regulatory and technical framework
- Design of the methodology and the work plan
- Data collection, processing and validation
- Technical development and analysis of results
- Discussion, conclusions and future lines of work
- Drafting of the memory in accordance with academic standards
- Presentation and public defence before the Court
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Maritime professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit who seek to lead the digital transformation and create new business models.Naval engineers, economists, and lawyers interested in the development of startups in the port, logistics, and marine renewable energy sectors.Directors and managers of maritime companies who wish to drive internal innovation and adapt to new market trends.Investor
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
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Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Promoting the creation of innovative maritime startups
- 02Mastering emerging technologies applied to the maritime sector
- 03Leading the digital transformation in the maritime industry
- 04Attracting investment and financing for disruptive maritime projects
- 05Develop disruptive business models in the maritime sector
- 06Navigating the legal and regulatory framework of the maritime sector
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Entrepreneur/Founder of Maritime Startups: Development and launch of innovative new businesses in the maritime sector.
03Innovation Manager in Maritime Companies: Implementation of innovation strategies and projects in companies within the sector.
04Maritime Innovation Consultant: Advising companies and organizations on identifying innovation opportunities and developing new products and services.
05Business Development Manager in Maritime Startups: Identification of new markets and business opportunities for startups in the maritime sector.
06Maritime Startup Investment Specialist: Analysis and evaluation of maritime startups for venture capital investment.
07Maritime R&D&I Project Manager: Coordination and Management of research, development, and innovation projects in the maritime sector.
08Maritime Market Analyst: Research and analysis of maritime market trends to identify innovation opportunities.
09Digital Marketing Manager for Maritime Startups: Development and implementation of digital marketing strategies to promote startups in the maritime sector.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Maritime sector.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
It encompasses both technological innovation and innovation in business models within the maritime sector.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate degree in Business, Engineering, Maritime Sciences, or related disciplines; Demonstrable professional experience in the maritime sector or entrepreneurship.Language proficiency:Fluency in Spanish (native or equivalent) and a functional level of English (B2 recommended) for access to resources and international networking.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of university degree (if applicable), academic transcript (if applicable), ID/Passport, cover letter highlighting interest in innovation and maritime startups.Tech
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