savvy navvy hits Seedrs target on same day as crowdfunding launch

Marine technology company savvy navvy has started overfunding on investment platform Seedrs only hours after launching its crowdfunding campaign.

Founded by ex-Google Software Engineer, Jelte Liebrand from Dorset, savvy navvy has raised more than £800k within hours of its launch this week and will keep the funding campaign open despite reaching its initial funding target.

savvy navvy was founded by avid sailor Jelte in 2017 who set out to simplify boating navigation. Together with co-founder Kevin O’Neill and backed by the founders of Kahoot, the savvy navvy app has had more than 43 million miles plotted by its hundreds of thousands users globally.

Jelte Liebrand, CEO and founder of savvy navvy, said: “I’m blown away by the support and it’s incredible how quickly we have overfunded, and continue to overfund, during this round.  Our vision from the outset has been for savvy navvy to be in every boater’s pocket, supporting both new and experienced boaters on the water and there is a real appetite to join us in this.

“In 2021 we set out to obtain 15,000 paying subscribers for our boating navigation app and we blew past that target at the end of the summer. With the boating boom surpassing even our own projections, we will continue to keep the funding round open for as long as possible to give everyone the opportunity to own a piece of savvy navvy. What a way to start 2022."

savvy navvy integrates essential marine information into one app, with a modern interface, and has made it quick and easy for old and new boaters alike to cross-check their traditional navigation plans, reducing the risk of human error as well as the stress of preparing to get out on the water.

Today’s crowdfunding round on the investment platform Seedrs has been oversubscribed, similarly to the previous three that have raised £1.8m since 2019.

Jelte Liebrand said: “Now in our fifth year here at savvy navvy, we are actively shaping the marine industry for the better and challenging the bigger navigation apps in the market. We’re pulling the technology out of the dark ages and making it possible for more people to enjoy this boating boom with safe and easy marine navigation solutions.

"This investment will help continue to drive these business and new technical innovations forward. It is a rare opportunity to play a part in shaping the future of sailing tech as we know it and we are so delighted to have our new investors on board."