SeaHiker is grateful and joyful to receive the early-stage funding (Vroegefasefinanciering, VVF) from UNIIQ, a regional investment fund in South Holland province of The Netherlands. The VFF was set up by the Dutch government, aiming to support startups or SME’s for their early stage development on innovative products or technologies.
SeaHiker has developed and patented a concept of Jack-up Leg Cushion (JLC) system, for the Wind Turbine Installation Vessels to improve their workability against bad weather. UNIIQ recognized the market potential, social impact and technology break-through of the product, and decided to support SeaHiker on its further development. The investment agreement was signed in December 2024.
The investment award was formally announced in the ceremony on 3 April 2025, with the presence of Mr. Meindert Stolk, provincial executive (Gedeputeerde) for Economy and Innovation of South Holland, Mr. Jasper Geselschap, fund manager of UNIIQ, and Mr. Jelle Eikelhof, investment manager UNIIQ, see news of UNIIQ. SeaHiker had the great honor, with 5 other startups in different industries, taking over the symbolic UNIIQ bricks from Mr. Stolk.
This funding will enable SeaHiker to expand the team for the concept design and further validation with potential customers. At this moment, the development engineering is on schedule; SeaHiker has received some interests and feedbacks from the market. SeaHiker plans to finalize the concept design and obtain DNV Approval-in-Principle around mid of 2025.