AI at Sea: AndrenaM’s Mission to Turn Ocean Blind Spots into Strategic Intelligence

The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface but remains one of the least observed environments. While surveillance technologies have advanced across land, air, and space, underwater monitoring still depends on outdated systems from past decades. AndrenaM, a California-based startup founded by two engineers with backgrounds in aerospace and robotics, is working to change that by using artificial intelligence to deliver real-time acoustic awareness across the surface, subsurface, and seabed.

Founded in 2024 by former SpaceX engineer Matej Cernosek and robotics expert Alex Chu, AndrenaM is building a distributed sonar mesh powered by artificial intelligence to monitor and interpret underwater activity. By combining advanced signal processing with passive acoustic sensors, the system can detect, classify, and track vessels with precision, even in complex and noisy maritime environments.

“Our vision is to secure the oceans,” said Cernosek, the company’s cofounder and CEO. “We are doing that by building a distributed sensing network that works as a sonar mesh.”

Smart Buoys and Real-Time Intelligence

This network consists of small, semi-autonomous buoys equipped with microphones and local processors. These buoys listen to what is happening in the water and transmit sound data to cloud platforms through satellite or drone relays. Each buoy also performs basic analysis onboard using edge computing, which reduces power consumption and shortens the time it takes to detect and interpret signals.

Traditional systems rely heavily on human operators who wear headphones and study analog sonar screens. AndrenaM’s solution replaces this manual process with machine learning that automates detection and classification. Their software combines data from multiple inputs, including the Automatic Identification System used by commercial vessels. When that system is disabled, such as during military activity, the platform can still identify ships using sound signatures.

Cyber News Centre recently reported on a growing wave of undersea cable disruptions, including a criminal case in Taiwan where a ship allegedly severed a subsea cable in a restricted zone. Incidents like this underscore how easily vessels can mask intent or identity, and why independent acoustic monitoring is becoming a critical capability in contested waters.

AndrenaM is designing its system to operate reliably in exactly these high-risk environments.

“Our technical moat lies in overcoming harsh and noisy undersea environments with robust signal processing, low-power edge computing, and machine learning-driven insights,” AndrenaM wrote in a recent blog post.

The system is also designed for interoperability, ensuring it can integrate with drones, autonomous underwater systems, and command centers across naval and commercial fleets.

Cernosek stressed the importance of building the system in-house. “We really want to vertically integrate the solution,” he said.

“Many of our competitors are just integrators. They piece together off-the-shelf components and try to make it work. It may function, but the result is often expensive and difficult to maintain.”

Funding, Field Testing, and the Path Ahead

The startup’s strategy and early results have attracted strong interest from investors. AndrenaM raised $10 million in seed funding in just 36 hours. The round was led by First Round Capital, with participation from Also Capital, Long Journey, Homebrew, Wavefunction, and the Colorado School of Mines Venture Fund.

Also Capital, posted a timeline on X of their engagement with AndrenaM, underscoring the startup’s pace and readiness.

First Round partner Meka Asonye flew himself from San Francisco to Hawthorne to meet the team in person. “The AndrenaM team is already deploying off the coast of California and the technology is functional,” he said. Also noting the company’s potential in commercial areas like port security.

The new funding will allow the company to double its staff, expand its machine learning models, and build custom hardware. The team recently purchased a North River 2700 vessel to support offshore deployment and field testing. 

“If you want to be the forward-deployed engineer and go on the boat to deploy and train these systems, this is your opportunity,” said Cernosek.

Currently, AndrenaM is in the first phase of a three-part roadmap. It is focused on deploying early systems and training the acoustic models. In the second phase, the company will scale operations and expand its customer base across defense and maritime sectors. The third and final stage envisions a global network of buoys delivering ocean-wide coverage.

With this approach, AndrenaM is doing more than building new hardware. It is turning the underwater world from a neglected blind spot into a critical domain of strategic visibility. As geopolitical tensions rise and autonomy becomes central to maritime operations, the ability to detect and respond to what is happening beneath the surface is no longer optional. Real-time ocean intelligence is essential for national security, commercial safety, and the stability of global trade.

Recent incidents across Asia and Europe have shown just how vulnerable underwater infrastructure has become. As Cyber News Centre has previously reported, deliberate interference with subsea cables and the use of deceptive maritime tactics are becoming more frequent and more complex. AndrenaM’s system offers a persistent, technology-driven layer of accountability that traditional monitoring tools can no longer provide. Its platform is not only relevant, it is increasingly essential for those tasked with protecting global connectivity, maritime supply chains, and underwater security.