Entrepreneur in Residence CEO for Fleetward

Fleetward is building a maritime software platform designed to help vessel operators stay inspection-ready without the last-minute scramble. Through a single integrated workflow crews and shore teams can prepare document and validate the evidence they need for PSC SIRE 2.0 vetting class flag and ISM/MLC inspections in one place.

The platform addresses a structural inefficiency across the maritime compliance sector: fragmented inspection preparation inconsistent evidence quality and disconnected ship-to-shore coordination used to manage inspection readiness. Fleetward enables operators to centralize their readiness process review evidence quality in real time and move from pre-inspection to closed corrective actions through a streamlined digital experience.

Starting from commercial fleet operators across maritime Europe Fleetward supports crews in replacing paper checklists WhatsApp photos spreadsheets and superintendent follow-ups with a scalable and intuitive platform. This foundation allows operators to reduce deficiency and detention risk improve evidence quality and progressively enable advanced use cases such as AI-assisted readiness review fleet-wide readiness dashboards and SeeVessel-style visual automation.

Fleetward is developed within a venture-building environment and leverages direct industry validation with the ambition to scale across European markets as a core digital infrastructure for vessel inspection readiness.

As Entrepreneur in Residence & CEO you will:

• Drive the venture from early-stage product development to successful go-to-market execution
• Validate the business model and lead the first customer and supplier acquisition efforts
• Build and lead a high-performing founding team
• Manage relationships with vessel operators ship management companies and classification flag and vetting bodies
• Collaborate with venture building experts to develop financial models pitch decks and fundraising strategies
• Raise the remaining part of the seed round (50% already committed)
• Represent the company to investors and key ecosystem stakeholders

• Strong entrepreneurial mindset and hands-on attitude
• Experience in early-stage start-ups ideally as a founder or first hire
• Proven ability to raise funds from angel investors and VCs and to craft compelling investor-ready narratives
• 10 years of professional experience
• Deep domain exposure to maritime operations vessel compliance ship management or inspection & certification
• Excellent communication leadership and decision-making skills
• Fluency in English and Italian
• Willingness to re-locate to Italy and work on-site (optional Milan or Rome)

• Founder-level equity in a validated high-potential venture
• Access to Maritime Ventures entire ecosystem of strategic partners industry mentors and investors
• The opportunity to lead a start-up that is transforming how SMEs access and finance industrial equipmentHands-on venture building support from Bridgemaker and Cariplo Factory
• Direct collaboration with CDP Venture Capital and major industrial and financial players
• A chance to shape the future of equipment access and capital-efficient business infrastructure

If you are ready to launch and lead a venture that could redefine how vessel operators stay inspection-ready across Europe we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and lets build Fleetward together.