• Tilla’s AI-powered platform digitizes and automates the full crew change process in commercial shipping, setting a new standard in global crew logistics by replacing manual workflows with integrated, data-driven operations.
• The investors Motion Ventures and EXMAR are key players in the shipping industry, bringing the right mix of expertise and network to support Tilla’s next phase of growth.
• With the new capital, Tilla plans to expand into key international markets, grow its global team, and continue building out its crew logistics platform to serve a growing global customer base.

Berlin, 29 July 2025 — Tilla, a Berlin-based maritime tech startup, today announced the successful closing of a €2 million funding round designed to accelerate the global expansion and innovation of its crew logistics platform. The round is led by global maritime venture capital firm Motion Ventures, which recently launched a $100 million maritime tech fund, alongside a strategic investment from EXMAR, a renowned Belgian shipping company with a long-standing reputation under the Saverys family. The new round brings Tilla’s total funding to €4 million since its founding in 2021.

The capital infusion will enable Tilla to further enhance its platform’s capabilities, enter new international markets including APAC and the Mediterranean, and rapidly scale its global team. The involvement of Motion Ventures and EXMAR provides more than just financial support: Their deep maritime expertise and global networks are a key asset, reinforcing Tilla’s credibility and market position as it aims to become the world’s leading end-to-end platform for crew change management.

Transforming Crew Changes in a $12 Billion Market

Founded in 2021, Tilla set out to modernize and digitize crew change management across the commercial shipping industry.

Each year, the shipping industry undertakes approximately ten million crew trips, incurring estimated costs of $12 billion. Most processes remain manual and fragmented, relying on calls, emails, and spreadsheets, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and high costs.

Tilla has developed a digital, AI-powered platform to solve this problem. It enables crewing teams to plan, monitor, and continuously optimize crew changes. The platform integrates all relevant data sources, including voyage schedules, crew details, port agency  data, real-time flight information, travel requirements, and more. It covers all steps of the crew change process, from planning, automated flight management, to invoice management and reporting. The platform integrates seamlessly with existing crew management systems. By using Tilla, ship managers can reduce crew change costs by up to 24% and save up to 40% in time.

Since its start, Tilla gained the trust of many well-known players in the sector. Among its customers are Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG, Essberger, Stödig Shipmanagement, Wilson, EXMAR, and Seatrade. Tilla has already facilitated over 35,000 crew trips, is deployed on over 500 vessels, and serves clients and users operating in ten countries across the globe.

Niklas Weidmann, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Tilla, says: “Our ambition is to become the global market leader and ultimately optimize every step of every crew change, everywhere in the world. The funding will help us get there. We’re very proud to have secured two such complementary and renowned investors. Their deep expertise and their global maritime networks are extremely valuable to us. They’ll enable us to scale faster and sustainably, grow our team, strengthen our market position, and expand into new regions.”

Narayan Venkatesh,Co-Founder and Managing Director of Tilla, adds: “This funding comes at a pivotal moment for Tilla as we see growing demand for digitized crew logistics. We are a technology startup at heart with a deep understanding of the crew logistics domain. After four years of building and creating value for our customers in Europe, we have a proven approach. Now, with Motion Ventures and EXMAR as partners who understand both the technology and industry landscape, we can accelerate our global value delivery and expand the platform with new AI-powered planning features, comprehensive financial capabilities and much more.”

Anders Vartdal, Senior Investment Associate at Motion Ventures, says: “Crew logistics is often an untouched cost line in maritime operations. Tilla’s early traction shows the appetite for solutions that can drive both savings and speed with simplicity. What stood out was how fast the team converted pilots into paying customers, that kind of execution speaks volumes. Niklas and Narayan are building for the industry, with the industry.”

Ariane Saverys, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at EXMAR, comments: “After integrating Tilla’s platform into our own operations, we were impressed by its impact and the team’s expertise. Investing in Tilla reflects our confidence in their future and the value they bring to maritime crew logistics worldwide.”

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About Tilla
Tilla was founded in Berlin in 2021 to optimize and improve the efficiency of crew changes in the shipping industry. Crewing is still one of the least digitized areas of work in shipping, but accounts for a large proportion of operational costs.

Tilla has developed a user-friendly and powerful platform to drive optimal crew change decisions and automate workflows, with real-time data and integrations. Tilla lowers crew change costs and improves productivity of crewing teams, covering the complete crew change process, from planning to flight booking and reporting. More information at www.tilla.tech

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About Motion Ventures

Motion Ventures is a venture capital fund catalysing digital and energy transitions across global supply chains. Backed by a unique network of corporate leaders, industry executives, and government partners, we empower founders to navigate complexities and achieve unparalleled success. Our collaborative approach, engaging stakeholders across and beyond the maritime sector, drives transformative changes that reshape global supply chains. For more information please visit: https://www.motion.vc/

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About EXMAR

EXMAR is a Belgian provider of floating solutions for the operation, transportation and transformation of gas and has a fleet of more than 40 gas carriers and floating gas terminals. EXMAR creates economically viable and sustainable energy value chain solutions in long-term alliances with first class business partners. Being one of the world’s largest independent transporters of ammonia and building upon the experience and knowledge gained from more than four decades of gas shipping. More information can be found at www.exmar.com

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Press contact: 

Darja Köhne

‍d.koehne@flagshipfounders.com

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