The article discusses Kraken Robotics’ growth, its focus on innovation and the technologies that are expected to drive the company’s future. The piece is based on an interview with David Shea, Kraken’s Chief Technology Officer, who has been with the company since its founding in 2012.
Kraken began with just six employees in 2012 and had grown to approximately 250 employees by 2024, with revenues approaching $100 million. The company’s guiding philosophy is summarized by its motto, “Innovate or Die,” reflecting its focus on continuously developing new technologies and pushing the boundaries of subsea technology.
In the interview, Shea discusses the technologies and industry trends that will support Kraken’s continued growth, including the company’s work in subsea robotics, sonar and autonomous systems.
“Synthetic aperture [sonar] is not just reserved for these very expensive, very exotic military applications but it’s truly an affordable tool to give you a higher area coverage at a lower cost for even commercial applications,” said Shea.
Shea explains that Newfoundland and Labrador provides a particularly valuable environment for testing marine technology because of the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic. He notes that “if you can make something work in the North Atlantic off of Newfoundland, you can make it work anywhere.”
He also discusses Newfoundland and Labrador’s technology sector, emphasizing the importance of the region’s people, collaboration and challenging Atlantic environment in developing innovative marine technologies.
The interview highlights how Kraken’s location and the broader Atlantic Canadian technology community contribute to the company’s ability to develop and test advanced subsea technologies.
Overall, the article presents Kraken as a rapidly growing global marine technology company built around continuous innovation, with David Shea emphasizing the importance of its people, Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique testing environment, and continued technological development to Kraken’s future growth.
