HyperKelp
About
About HyperKelp
HyperKelp develops autonomous surface buoys for persistent maritime monitoring. Its Kelp Smart Buoy combines onboard processing, satellite or radio communications and configurable sensor payloads in a platform designed for long-duration ocean deployment.
Networked buoys can collect environmental, acoustic and security data across wide areas without continuous crewed-vessel presence. Edge processing reduces raw data before transmission and lets operators adapt detection to a mission. HyperKelp supplies the surface hardware, energy system, communications and cloud data workflow for government, research and commercial users.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-03-19 - Award - Connect names HyperKelp among 24 Cool Companies
HyperKelp was one of 24 companies named to the 2026 class. The programme highlights startups positioned for institutional-scale growth. The recognition added a regional commercialization milestone to HyperKelp's defense and ocean-sensing work.
Source - 2025-12-19 - Award - HyperKelp named to Emergent Defense Impact 100
The recognition followed a year of testing and validation for HyperKelp's smart-buoy platform. The platform was built for low-cost, long-endurance maritime sensing. The company targeted operational use across defense and commercial ocean-intelligence missions.
Source - 2025-12-10 - Award - HyperKelp selected for NATO DIANA's 2026 programme
HyperKelp was named in NATO DIANA's 2026 company cohort. The selection provides access to accelerator sites, test centres and allied defence users. The company was selected in an autonomy, maritime, sensing, communications or related dual-use challenge area.
Source - 2025-05-06 - Deployment - First HyperKelp smart buoy deployed in San Diego Bay
The deployed buoy began collecting a continuous stream of environmental data. The programme planned five smart buoys in and near San Diego Bay. The field deployment applied the Kelp Smart Buoy platform to local water-quality monitoring.
Source - 2024-12-16 - Contract Award - U.S. Air Force awards HyperKelp USD 1.8 million Phase II
The effort expanded KSB multi-sensor capabilities for monitoring large ocean regions. Buoy units were designed for deployment from government aircraft and cloud-based sensor fusion. The contract supported scalable maritime awareness for commercial and defense networks.
Source - 2024-11-25 - Contract Award - U.S. Navy awards HyperKelp USD 1.3 million sensing contract
The Phase II effort covered a Kelp Smart Buoy sensor suite for detecting hypersonic aircraft from the ocean surface. The system was designed to integrate with Navy command-and-control systems for real-time intelligence sharing. KSB units had already undergone testing at government-sponsored Trident Spectre 2024 and Silent Swarm events.
Source - 2023-03-02 - Award - HyperKelp joins 2023 NSIN Propel Hawaii cohort
The cohort was selected from more than 200 applicants. Programme work covered networks, contested logistics, autonomous systems and disaster response. The accelerator connected participating startups with U.S. Pacific Fleet and other Indo-Pacific defense users.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- United States Air Force
Direct To Phase Ii Contracting Agency - The U.S. Air Force awarded HyperKelp a USD 1.8 million Direct-to-Phase II contract to advance the Kelp Smart Buoy multi-sensor platform.
- United States Navy
Phase Ii Contracting Agency - The U.S. Navy awarded HyperKelp a USD 1.3 million Phase II contract to advance buoy-based counter-hypersonic sensing technology.
- NATO DIANA
Programme Participant - HyperKelp selected through NATO DIANA.
- Northrop Grumman
Defense Partner - Northrop Grumman supported HyperKelp through a defense-industry partnership.
- NSIN Propel Hawaii
Accelerator Programme - HyperKelp joined the 2023 NSIN Propel Hawaii accelerator.
Context
Comparable profiles
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stack adjacency - Maritime Autonomy Companies · Maritime Robotics Companies
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stack adjacency - Maritime Autonomy Companies · Maritime Robotics Companies
- Orpheus Ocean
stack adjacency - Maritime Autonomy Companies · Maritime Robotics Companies
- Nauticus Robotics
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- SEAHI Robotics
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- AliciaBots
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- JM Robotics
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- Splash
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- Impossible Metals
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- Orca AI
stack adjacency - Maritime Autonomy Companies
- Sofar Ocean
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
- MARTAC
stack adjacency - Maritime Robotics Companies
Context tags
- Maritime robotics ecosystem - Stack Layer - Official profile evidence supports maritime robotics companies.
- Maritime autonomy companies - Stack Layer - Official profile evidence supports maritime autonomy companies.
- Maritime operations - Customer Environment - Official profile evidence supports maritime operations.
Commercial
- U.S. Air Force awards HyperKelp USD 1.8 million Phase II
2024-12-16 · Order / contract · HyperKelp received a USD 1.8 million U.S. Air Force Direct to Phase II contract to advance Kelp Smart Buoy maritime-surveillance technology.
Source - U.S. Navy awards HyperKelp USD 1.3 million sensing contract
2024-11-25 · Order / contract · HyperKelp received a USD 1.3 million U.S. Navy contract to advance buoy-based counter-hypersonic detection technology.
Source