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The start-up company Searine launched a search in late summer 2024 for three experienced test sailors – sailors who would sail with the company’s revolutionary and exciting Ocean One system.The interest in both Searine’s technology and the opportunity to participate in the test program was overwhelming.

Carefully selected
The three test sailors were carefully selected by the expert panel who assessed the sailors’ experience and technical knowledge within the maritime field. Comprising Karin Steen Steffensen (instructor and speaker), Benjamin Götke (marine electrician), Lars Nordbjærg (shipyard owner), Øyvind Bordal (journalist and author), Anders Söderberg (harbourmaster), and Anders Hovmøller (founder and CEO of Searine), the panel had no doubt about who they wanted to choose.

The company Searine has developed an electric propulsion system for sailboats and is now looking for sailors who are interested in testing it during the 2025 sailing season. The aim is to gain deeper insights into how sailors use and experience the system.

Searine, winner of the Roskilde Business Award 2023, has a clear vision: to make sustainable sailing even safer, simpler, and more environmentally friendly. Their advanced system, Ocean One, features innovations such as a 360-degree rotating saildrive that can recharge the boat using energy from sailing – known as hydrogeneration.

“We’re reaching out to all recreational sailors who might be interested in giving us ongoing feedback on the user experience of Ocean One. Sailors’ opinions are absolutely crucial to us—both now and in the future – as they help us improve and design the system to better meet their needs,” says Anders Hovmøller, CEO and founder of Searine A/S, in a press release.

The Roskilde-based company Searine has secured a significant multi-million investment to further develop and market its groundbreaking electric saildrive.

The new investment comes from recently appointed Chairman of the Board, Jacob Jelsing, a passionate sailor himself. He is the co-founder of the publicly listed biotech company Gubra and founder of the holding company Change Ventures, which has invested in Searine.

The mission of Change Ventures is to provide venture capital to green startups and sustainable companies working on projects that aim to create societal change. Jacob Jelsing joins Searine’s other investor, Kim Madsen, a business owner with a strong personal interest in sailing. Kim Madsen is the founder and CEO of Momentum Energy Group A/S, an international developer, asset manager, and investor in wind and solar energy, headquartered in Roskilde. He has invested in Searine A/S in a private capacity.

A Personal Cause
Searine was founded by sailor and entrepreneur Anders Hovmøller, who has worked relentlessly to develop a saildrive that not only revolutionizes sailing efficiency but also contributes to a more sustainable and digital future at sea.

“I have a deep desire to support and assist the passionate individuals and companies working for a more sustainable future – and that’s exactly what Searine is doing. Moreover, this is a personal cause that I care deeply about. As a sailor, marine biologist, and climate activist, it pains me to see a sailing industry where more than 99% of the fleet runs on fossil fuels. Searine’s system also offers a number of unique features that I believe could revolutionize the sailing industry and significantly enhance the sailing experience,” says Jacob Jelsing in a press release.

When Anders Hovmøller received the Roskilde Business Award 2023 in January, it was as the founder and CEO of the company Undine. But that name is now a thing of the past. The company has since rebranded as Searine, a name considered to have greater impact and resonance than Undine. Searine aims to make sailing more sustainable with its cobalt-free batteries and electric propulsion systems for sailboats.

“Searine is more intuitive and evokes associations with the sea and sailing. The name is a fusion of Sea and Marine. At the same time, serene describes a state of peace and calm,” says Anders Hovmøller in a press release.

The name change is driven by the company’s desire to accelerate the transformation of the heavily polluting sailing industry into a more environmentally friendly and sustainable sector.

“As someone who grew up by the sea and has loved the sea since childhood, I feel a deep responsibility to contribute to a faster transition to greener sailing. That’s why I’ve committed myself to revolutionizing the sailing experience by focusing on digital tools that make it more eco-friendly and safe. With the new name, I hope we can significantly accelerate that process,” explains Anders Hovmøller, who is originally from Roskilde and an avid sailor himself.

A typical sailing trip in a diesel-powered sailboat emits an average of 1,400 grams of CO₂ per nautical mile – a figure that nearly doubles with just one additional knot of speed. In comparison, if Searine’s electric solution is charged in a harbor using green energy, emissions are reduced to just 106 grams of CO₂ per nautical mile.

Environmentally friendly sailing solutions can help make the coastlines of Zealand even more attractive – keeping the sea clean, protecting marine life, and enhancing the appeal of coastal areas for tourism.

“Almost none of the sailboats in Denmark are electric. That’s something I intend to change — not just here, but internationally,” says Anders Hovmøller.

Two companies were running for the Roskilde Business Award 2023, with the final battle standing between sailing and sensors. Before the final vote, the field of six nominated companies had been narrowed down to two, and it was up to the attendees at the New Year’s reception hosted by Roskilde Municipality and Roskilde Business Forum at City Hall to cast their votes and decide the winner.

The majority chose Searine (Undine), a company working to make sailing sustainable through its cobalt-free batteries and electric propulsion systems for sailboats. Searine’s (Undine’s) owner and founder, Anders Hovmøller, accepted the award together with Chairman of the Board and investor Kim Madsen, who has recently joined the company’s ownership circle. Madsen is the CEO of Momentum Energy Group, which was a finalist for the Roskilde Business Award in 2022 but lost out to DynElectro – so this time, it could be said that he got his revenge.

“I stand here today not just as the captain of Searine (Undine), but as a grateful sailor, surrounded by a crew who has made this journey possible and unforgettable. Winning this award is like the perfect wind filling our sails, propelling us even faster toward distant shores. With the wind at our backs and this award as our compass, we are ready to reach even greater heights,” said a visibly proud Anders Hovmøller in his acceptance speech.

He described the award as a significant recognition of Searine’s (Undine’s) vision to make sailing both green and digital. “But the award also comes with responsibility – to continue innovating, inspiring, and making a difference in the business world and on the world’s oceans. To set new standards, explore new horizons, break boundaries, and create sustainable results! So, this award is not only a symbol of recognition, but also a powerful confirmation that we’ve chosen the right course and that our goals are within reach,” he added.

Open for Nominations
Searine (Undine) won the award ahead of IoT Fabrikken, a company that develops and sells wireless sensors used, for example, to measure indoor climate or monitor space usage.

Demand for such solutions is on the rise, and the company, based in Svogerslev, had an extremely busy 2023 – recently hiring a commercial director. So, despite not taking home the award, the team was all smiles.

“We shipped our first product just 10 days before the country went into its first COVID lockdown, so we never imagined we’d be standing here today,” said Katja Kafling, Communications Manager at IoT Fabrikken.

We are proud to announce that Searine has been nominated for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 – one of the most prestigious business awards celebrating innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial excellence.

This nomination is a strong recognition of Searine’s mission to revolutionize the sailing industry through sustainable technology. With our cobalt-free batteries, electric propulsion systems, and smart digital tools, we are committed to making sailing cleaner, safer, and more efficient.

Founder and CEO Anders Hovmøller shares:

“This nomination is not only an honor for our team — it’s a clear sign that the world is ready for a greener maritime future. We’re proud to contribute to that journey.”

We’re grateful to EY for the recognition and to our partners, investors, and sailing community for believing in our vision.

We are proud to share that Searine (formerly known as Undine) was nominated for the SDG Tech Awards 2022, Denmark’s largest sustainability award recognizing companies and technologies contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The nomination highlighted Searine’s innovative work in transforming the sailing industry through green technology – including our cobalt-free batteries, electric propulsion systems, and AI-powered navigation tools. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable and digital sailing, reducing CO₂ emissions and protecting marine ecosystems.

Being nominated among such inspiring and forward-thinking companies is a great honor and a testament to the growing importance of clean-tech solutions in maritime innovation.

“This recognition reinforces our belief that sustainable change in sailing is not only possible – it’s already underway,” says founder and CEO Anders Hovmøller.

We thank the SDG Tech Awards team for the nomination and for putting the spotlight on green innovation.