The maritime industry is one of the most challenging arenas for entrepreneurship and a small, tightly-knit community where outsiders, regardless of their profile in other industries, often struggle to gain acceptance, Pallav Sharma, founder and CEO of Indian maritime tech startup The Oceann tells Splash Extra. Sharma finds that success lies in deep-rooted connections, extensive cross-border networks, substantial investment, and a long-term commitment. “It’s why,” he says, “you rarely see bootstrap startups thriving in the Asia-Pacific commercial sector, though some do manage in Europe.” Sharma describes his experience in the maritime industry as “diverse and deeply immersive”, spanning from his early days as a cadet on tanker vessels to eventually becoming a chief mate. He later transitioned into breakbulk chartering with Maersk Logistics, and then into bulk commodities trading with the likes of Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Scorpio, and Norvic. “This experience across different facets of the maritime and trading industries gave me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within this sector,” he recounts. Based in Noida, the company founded in 2022 has built a platform focused on commercial chartering operations, finance automation, and decarbonisation for carbon index monitoring and shipping. The system aims to be a one-stop solution for international shipping and commodity trading, focusing on real-time information to support decision-making rather than “reactive postmortem analysis”. It is designed to manage bulk and breakbulk commodities from origin to delivery, integrating commodities trading workflows, market trend algorithms for traders, maritime operations, and inland logistics into a “seamless, comprehensive system”. “The ultimate goal is to enable users to make informed, timely decisions that drive efficiency and growth across the entire supply chain.” Sharma trusts that in an industry as complex and interconnected as maritime clients are looking for more than just technology, but solutions that deliver real value. “They demand real-time data, automation, and actionable insights that can drive better decisions and improve efficiency.” He says that in a market flooded with tech solutions, differentiation is key and what sets The Oceann apart is the company’s “deep industry knowledge” and the practical insights gained from working across various maritime platforms. “I’ve personally worked on and collected feedback from almost every competitive platform, and this has been instrumental in shaping our offerings. Our products are built not just to compete but to excel by addressing the real, often unspoken needs of maritime operators,” Sharma notes. Forging ahed, The Oceann will seek to expand its offerings and integrate more comprehensive workflows into its platform, Sharma says, adding that the ultimate vision is to create a fully unified platform that spans the entire supply chain—from commodities trading and market trend analysis to maritime operations and inland logistics. Geographically, the company is focused on strengthening our presence in key maritime hubs across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and is also exploring strategic partnerships that can help it scale more quickly and reach a broader audience. “As the industry evolves, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve, driving innovation, and setting new standards for maritime technology. Our goal is to be the go-to solution provider for all aspec