Imagine a tiny robot, bravely sailing through the wrath of a Category 5 hurricane, gathering crucial data. This is the remarkable story of Oshen, a company that dared to venture where few have gone before. But how did it all begin?
Anahita Laverack, an aspiring aerospace engineer, had a life-changing moment at an autonomous robotics challenge. She realized the world needed more ocean data, and so Oshen was born. But here's where it gets interesting: the journey started with a sailing competition.
In 2021, Laverack entered the Microtransat Challenge, aiming to sail a micro-robot across the Atlantic. However, like many before her, she faced failure. But why? Laverack discovered that the lack of ocean data was a significant hurdle. The world, it seemed, was missing vital information about ocean conditions and weather.
So, she embarked on a quest to find this data, attending conferences like Oceanology International. But the data remained elusive. Instead, she found an opportunity. People were willing to pay for this data, and Laverack saw a chance to create a solution.
Oshen, co-founded by Laverack and Ciaran Dowds in 2022, is the result of this vision. They started small, living on a 25-foot sailboat, using it as their testing ground. For two years, they iterated and tested their bots, braving the elements, including winter storms, to perfect their technology.
The challenge? Creating micro-robots that are mass-deployable, affordable, and technologically advanced. Many companies have tackled this, but Oshen's unique approach caught the attention of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Despite initial setbacks, Oshen's persistence paid off. In 2025, they deployed 15 C-Stars, with five heading into the path of Hurricane Humberto.
And this is the part most people miss: three of those bots survived the entire storm, collecting data throughout. A remarkable feat! Oshen's success led to contracts with the U.K. government and others. But the story doesn't end there.
The company is now raising venture capital to meet the growing demand for their innovative technology. And the question remains: what other mysteries of the ocean will Oshen's robots uncover? The future of ocean data collection is here, and it's an exciting journey ahead.
