Page 36: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2017)

Voices

Though we are a software company, Greensea is very hardware-oriented. In the robotics world a software company is only as successful as the operator perceives it to be. Between software and the operator is hardware. So in the early days we found that for us to be as successful as possible, we had to own that hardware interface, as well. So we had to own the integration of the hardware, we had to own the delivery of the hardware, and we had to own the training of the operator. We had to make sure the operator knew how to use our software in that hardware.

That was a real differentiator between Greensea and everyone else, it remains our biggest differentiator and our biggest asset as a software company. focused on developing this core architecture which is called startup stories, I was consumed writing OPENSEA, and my “OPENSEA.” wife was holding the business together and making it happen.

Starting in about 2008, we felt that that we had reached a maturity level with OPENSEA that that required us to start What was the main challenge as a start-up?

testing, it required us to start getting some blue water experi- ence. From 2008 to about 2013 we took on several large proj- Though we are a software company, Greensea is very ects a year. Prime contractor-type projects or science projects hardware-oriented. In the robotics world a software company –big integration projects. So during this period, Greensea was is only as successful as the operator perceives it to be. Be- largely characterized as an engineering services company. tween software and the operator is hardware. So in the early

But our intent for OPENSEA all along was to develop a prod- days we found that for us to be as successful as possible, we uct for the offshore industry that could integrate these dispa- had to own that hardware interface, as well. So we had to own rate technologies into a common operating platform, and ulti- the integration of the hardware, we had to own the delivery of mately, make the operator’s job a little bit easier and a lot more the hardware, and we had to own the training of the operator. effective. And in 2013, we felt that we had reached a maturity We had to make sure the operator knew how to use our soft- level of OPENSEA that would enable us to start productiz- ware in that hardware. ing this technology. So for the next couple years, we really That was a real differentiator between Greensea and ev- listened to the community to