Our Startup Spotlight series introduces you to our community of innovators, highlighting their unique journeys. This week, we put the spotlight on MarkSetBot, the Detroit based technology company creating the world's first robotic sailing mark system.
How did you come up with the idea for the business?
MarkSetBot was conceived by founder Kevin Morin in 2013 while racing Lightnings on Cass Lake at the Pontiac Yacht Club in Michigan, where unique challenges for Race Committee work were evident. The lake's shifty winds and areas too deep for traditional anchored racing marks made setting courses difficult. Moreover, every racer at the Club was required to volunteer for the race committee, but not all had the skills to set quality courses, and this reliance on members reduced the number of competing boats.
These factors often compromised race quality, as courses were set in less-than-ideal locations due to anchor limitations, with anchored marks prone to drifting from wind and waves. Furthermore, necessary course adjustments during wind shifts were infrequent because they were time-consuming and demanded significant manpower.
So, MarkSetBot was conceived when Kevin realized that replacing the mark set boat with an automated solution could simplify the process for volunteers, allow more racers to compete, and improve race quality, ultimately leading to happier racers.
Why does the industry need the solution you're providing?
Improving race quality is MarkSetBot’s fundamental purpose. Additionally, the sailing industry faces several challenges that make the need for MarkSetBot's solution essential. Many prime sailing venues worldwide have conditions that complicate traditional mark setting, such as deep waters, shifty winds, and challenging currents. MarkSetBot's robotic racing marks can be quickly set and reset, improving race quality in these environments.
The number of race committee volunteers has significantly decreased over the past decade. Many long-time volunteers are aging out and no longer wish to handle the physically demanding task of dropping and pulling anchors. MarkSetBot requires only one person to manage an entire course of marks, making the process more efficient and less reliant on a large volunteer base.
There is also a growing emphasis on sustainability within the sailing community. Clubs and events are increasingly limiting the number of mark-setting boats to reduce their environmental impact. Plus, anchoring traditional marks causes seabed damage. MarkSetBot's battery-operated motors are eco-friendly, avoiding the need for traditional anchors and reducing the environmental footprint.
By addressing these issues, MarkSetBot provides a comprehensive solution that enhances race management, reduces the dependency on volunteers, and aligns with the industry's sustainability goals. Beyond sailboat racing, we see scientific and military uses for our patented technology. Our unique selling premise is a low-cost marine drone which is self-propelled, navigates to where it’s programmed
and holds position until told to change.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
Like any technological development, the journey of creating MarkSetBot came with its share of challenges and growing pains. One of the most surprising challenges we faced was designing the appearance of the Bots to make them visible without negatively affecting their performance. Ensuring that the Bots were easily seen by sailors while maintaining optimal functionality was a delicate balance to strike.
We were fortunate to have the support of several yacht clubs that volunteered to beta test our early prototypes. Their feedback and collaboration were invaluable in helping us refine and improve our product to achieve the high standards we have today.
What's the plan for the future of the business? Where do you see the company in 3-5 years?
We have seen incredible growth for MarkSetBot over the past few years and aim to continue this trajectory. Since our inception, we have made 460 product improvements, reflecting our commitment to continuous enhancement and innovation.
We evolved from solely being a provider of robotic marks (MarkSetBot) to develop RaceOS, a comprehensive race operating system. This system offers race committees a broader set of tools to run even higher quality races. Our vision for RaceOS is to use AI to set up and run a fully autonomous race course where instruments read the wind, the Bots go into position, the starting signals go off, and then the race gets scored with minimal race committee or even no committee.
We have recently introduced the MarkSetBot V5, packed with enhancements designed to elevate the race-day experience, boost on-water performance, and minimize ongoing maintenance. Additionally, we have developed a Grand Prix Bot, approximately three times the size of our standard model, which is currently in use by SailGP on their F50 courses. To expand functionality, we created an add-on kit that repurposes Bots as revenue-generating floating or moving golf targets. Furthermore, we are developing the BeachSafetyBot, an aquatic drone designed to assist lifeguards in swim areas with lifesaving operations.
Our vision for the next 3–5 years is centered on staying true to our roots by continually improving and growing the sport of sailboat racing, keeping our core mission at the heart of our business. We aim to solidify our position as a leader in the sailing industry by innovating and enhancing our product offerings while expanding our international footprint, which currently spans 29 countries. We will invest in research and development to introduce new features and capabilities that make race management more efficient and effective. Additionally, we plan to explore alternative uses for our technology in various industries, leveraging our expertise in marine robotic systems.
By focusing on these areas, we plan to drive our business forward, delivering innovative solutions and expanding our impact within the sailing community and beyond.
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