- Investor lineup includes state-backed seaport group and venture firms
- Funding to support underwater sensing equipment and marine data services
Geovis DeepSea Technology (中科星图深海科技), an ocean tech startup, has raised an undisclosed amount in a Series B round backed by a consortium of investors.
They include state-run Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group, China Industrial Securities Capital, Chengdu Ceyuan Capital Group and Bright Capital.
The company said it will use the proceeds to upgrade marine sensing equipment, expand applications for ocean data services and support what it calls “transparent ocean” development.
Strategic industry
The funding comes as Beijing elevates deep-sea technology as a strategic industry. In 2025, the sector was included in the government work report alongside commercial space and low-altitude economy initiatives, as part of efforts to develop new productive forces.
China’s marine economy has also expanded rapidly, with total marine output value surpassing 10 trillion yuan ($1.48 trillion) in 2024, accounting for 7.8% of GDP, according to official data.
The scale has drawn increasing investor attention to ocean-related technologies.
Marine equipment production
Founded in 2014 and based in Hangzhou’s Qiantang District, Geovis DeepSea is controlled by Geovis Technology (中科星图股份有限公司), which holds a 30% stake in the company.
The firm focuses on marine sensing equipment, ocean data services and exploration, monitoring and early-warning systems.
Its products include unmanned underwater exploration systems and intelligent detection equipment, aimed at building a multi-layered, full-depth ocean sensing system to support “transparent ocean” initiatives.
The company operates R&D, production and field bases in northern China’s Shenyang, Zhejiang’s Haining and Sanya in the southernmost tropical island Hainan.
Broader ‘intelligent earth’ strategy
Geovis DeepSea forms part of Geovis Technology’s broader strategy, which integrates satellite, drone and geospatial data into its digital earth platform.
The parent company has positioned “intelligent earth” as its core, with commercial space and low-altitude economy as two growth drivers.
In 2025, Geovis Technology’s low-altitude economy segment generated more than 200 million yuan in revenue, while its commercial space business rose 33% to 383 million yuan, with both segments increasing their share of total revenue.
Deep-sea technology is seen as a key component of completing the group’s earth information strategy.
The company has recently expanded its commercial footprint, winning a 5.02 million yuan tender in March from the Second Institute of Oceanography under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipment leasing.
