Voltai, a Dartmouth-based cleantech company developing ocean and renewable energy technologies, has closed an oversubscribed pre-seed financing round of $1.83 million.

The round was led by Invest Nova Scotia. Other participants included an angel investor group headed by Mahir Sahin, a former advisor to Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory X (formerly Google X) and founder of Cloudberry Ventures.

Voltai is developing electrostatic generators designed to capture kinetic energy from ocean waves and vessel movement. The company says its technology converts that energy into electricity without creating drag, making it suitable for use on moving vessels. The generators are intended to help the shipping and offshore industries reduce fossil fuel use, lower emissions, and cut operating costs.

“Harnessing the energy potential of waves has long posed significant challenges,” said Invest Nova Scotia Investment Principal Jen Fuccillo in a statement. “Voltai’s electrostatic generator, with its unique energy conversion mechanism, addresses these challenges head-on to make wave energy conversion efficient and cost-effective.”

Founder and CEO Maja Maher said the financing will allow the company to advance product development and prepare for commercialization. “This funding allows us to fast-track our development and bring scalable solutions to a sector that urgently needs them,” she said.

The company said the angel group led by Sahin will also provide strategic support, connecting Voltai with international technology networks and contributing expertise to its growth strategy.

With the new capital, Voltai plans to move quickly toward scaling its technology. The company is also laying the groundwork for a seed round aimed at expanding its presence in the global maritime energy market.

Voltai focuses on developing renewable energy solutions for the maritime sector. The company’s work aligns with broader efforts to decarbonize shipping and offshore industries, which face pressure to meet net-zero emissions targets.