Wsense

Wsense is a deep-tech company that develops underwater monitoring and wireless communication systems, pioneering the 'Internet of Underwater Things' (IoUT). Founded in 2012 as a spinoff from Sapienza University of Rome by Professor Chiara Petrioli, who now serves as CEO, the company provides patented technologies that enable reliable, real-time, and secure data exchange between underwater sensors, robotics, and surface stations. Petrioli, a full professor of computer engineering, has led the company from its academic roots to a commercial entity with a team of over 50 professionals.

The company's core offering is a platform that creates wireless, multi-modal mesh networks using acoustic and optical waves, effectively creating an 'underwater Wi-Fi'. This technology facilitates interoperability between sensors and autonomous vehicles from different manufacturers, allowing for extensive and long-term monitoring over large underwater areas. Wsense's solutions cater to a variety of sectors within the Blue Economy, including energy, aquaculture, critical infrastructure protection, environmental monitoring, and cultural heritage. Its business model involves providing end-to-end solutions, including network design and management, a cloud-based data visualization platform, and system integration services for third-party devices. Clients include major companies like Saipem, Leonardo, Fincantieri, and research institutions such as the National Oceanography Centre.

Wsense has secured significant funding to fuel its growth and international expansion, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. After a seed round of €4 million in 2022, the company raised €11 million in a Series A round in 2023, followed by a €7.2 million pre-Series B round in April 2025, bringing its total funding to over €22 million. Key investors include CDP Venture Capital, SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean fund, Axon Partners Group, and Fincantieri. The company has received multiple awards, including the BlueInvest Award from the European Commission in 2022.

Keywords: underwater communication, internet of underwater things, IoUT, subsea wifi, marine technology, blue economy, wireless sensor networks, ocean monitoring, underwater acoustics, environmental monitoring, marine robotics, critical infrastructure security, aquaculture technology, offshore energy, data-driven aquaculture, ocean observation, subsea networks, marine data collection, deep-tech, autonomous underwater vehicles