Schmidt Marine Technology Partners

Schmidt Marine Technology Partners

Schmidt Marine Technology Partners originates from the philanthropic and investment capital of Eric and Wendy Schmidt. The firm was established in 2017 alongside the Schmidt Family Foundation and Schmidt Marine, though exact founding year for the investment vehicle is not publicly recorded. The wealth that funds this office was generated primarily through Eric Schmidt's role as CEO and Chairman of Google and later Alphabet. The firm invests across early-stage and growth equity, with a focus on ocean technology, marine conservation, and climate adaptation. Known portfolio companies include Saildrone, an unmanned surface vehicle company; SafetyNet Technologies, which develops selective fishing gear; and Aquaai, a maker of autonomous underwater drones. Deals are typically structured as direct equity investments, often alongside philanthropic grants from the Schmidt Family Foundation. Geographic focus spans the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Deployment size and team headcount are not publicly disclosed. The firm operates from San Francisco, with Eric and Wendy Schmidt retaining active oversight. Related vehicles include the Schmidt Family Foundation, which manages the philanthropic arm, and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which operates research vessel Falkor. A notable recent operational event: in 2024, Schmidt Marine Partners led a funding round in Aquaai to scale its fish-like underwater drones for ocean data collection (per TechCrunch, 2024). A structural differentiator is the explicit bridge between for-profit investment and philanthropic mission within the same capital system. Schmidt Marine Technology Partners operates as a thematic venture family office where financial returns and measurable ocean-impact goals are pursued together — a design that mirrors the Schmidt Family Foundation's marine program priorities but with a commercial lens.