Roboat, the Amsterdam-based startup developing autonomy systems for transport over water, has announced a leadership change as it sets course for scale-up. CEO and co-founder Ynse Deinema is handing over the reins to Joshua Jordanafter four years leading the company’s growth.
The Transition
Roboat was founded in 2023, and since then its growth has been led with full dedication by Deinema. Explaining the handover, Deinema said: “I’m proud of the team and the technology we’ve built together, but after four years, I’d like to work where I live and be closer to my family in Friesland. Joshua has the experience and drive to take Roboat further, and I have every confidence that he will.”
The rest of the leadership team remains unchanged: Jonathan Klein Schiphorst continues as CTO and Rens Doornbusch as CPO.
Joshua Jordan has been with Roboat from the very beginning, back when it was still a research project. Combining over a decade in AI and software startups with what the company describes as heartfelt optimism, he’s seen as uniquely positioned to bring Roboat’s vision to the world and take the company to its next level.
What Doesn’t Change
The leadership change doesn’t alter what Roboat stands for: a future in which autonomy empowers the transport of people and goods. Roboat’s skipper-support systems are already operational on ferries sailing the IJ in Amsterdam. Last summer, the company piloted its first logistics demonstration with an autonomous barge sailing through Amsterdam’s city center.
Jordan commented on the opportunity ahead: “I believe autonomy will fundamentally change transport over water. With its technology, Roboat has already proven that this is no longer a vision for the future, but something that can be deployed today. My role is to put that promise into practice at greater scale.”
What’s Next
To accelerate this new phase, Roboat is currently raising capital to further invest in technology development and market rollout. The company is in talks with partners, operators, and parties across the logistics chain who share its vision and want to help shape the future of water-based transport together.
About Roboat
Roboat develops autonomy systems for safe, efficient, and scalable transport over water, for both passenger and goods transport. Smart sensors and software are used to support crews in their navigation tasks, combining years of research and the latest technology into solutions for work boats, ferries, and cargo vessels.
Roboat’s technology helps GVB Veren in Amsterdam improve its operations by supporting skippers, and serves as a solution for autonomous urban logistics over water. After piloting full end-to-end solutions such as the Ferry of the Future in Paris, Roboat is now focused on bringing higher levels of autonomy to more operations, including the transport of Amsterdam’s waste.
