Cetasol

WWhile electrification and innovation in the maritime industry have focused mainly on large vessels, small and mid-sized ships - which make up nearly 90% of the world’s fleet - remain underserved. These vessels represent the fastest and most scalable path to climate impact, yet they often lack access to affordable optimization tools.

This is where Cetasol steps in. With their AI-driven decision support platform iHelm, they enable 10–25% fuel savings for small and mid-sized vessels. iHelm continuously gathers and analyzes both real-time and historical operational data through digital twin technology, providing captains with instant recommendations via edge computing. At the same time, fleet managers gain access to cloud-based dashboards with performance metrics, emissions tracking, and predictive maintenance capabilities.

The impact is immediate: lower costs, reduced emissions, and optimized operations - all delivered through a scalable SaaS solution designed for the maritime industry of today and tomorrow.

The Team

Founded in Gothenburg by Ethan Faghani, Cetasol combines deep maritime expertise with advanced data science. The team has rapidly positioned itself as the leading provider of fuel-saving solutions for mid-size vessels. With a clear vision for sustainable operations and a relentless drive to innovate, Cetasol is now scaling globally from its Nordic base.

Backers’ Perspective

At BackingMinds, we believe that digitalization and data-driven solutions will play a central role in reducing emissions and costs across industries. While the maritime sector is responsible for about 3% of global CO₂ emissions, small and mid-sized vessels have so far been overlooked in the green transition.

Cetasol addresses this blind spot by combining AI, digital twin technology, and real operational data to unlock fuel savings and efficiency gains where they are needed most. With their scalable solution, the team is transforming not only how vessels operate but also how the industry as a whole approaches sustainability.

By bridging the gap between technology and maritime expertise, Cetasol is paving the way for smarter, cleaner, and more resilient global shipping.