Maritime crews operate in an environment where every decision matters. Yet behind the scenes, many are still navigating an increasingly complex web of paper records, disconnected software, and manual processes to access the information they need.

For Cédric Goyette, those challenges weren't observed from the sidelines—they were lived.

"After almost twenty years at sea I saw maritime operations getting more and more complicated every year. The tools we had were not keeping up at all. With tighter regulations and more paperwork than ever the crews were buried in documents and manual work instead of focusing on safe navigation and making good decisions. I kept thinking there had to be a better way. So I decided to build it myself," Goyette said. 

That realization became the starting point for InBridge AI, a Squamish, British Columbia-based company building an intelligence platform designed specifically for maritime operations.

Rather than simply digitizing existing workflows, InBridge AI fundamentally changes how crews and shore teams interact with operational knowledge. Instead of requiring users to know where information is stored, which procedure applies, or which form must be completed, InBridge understands the operational context, retrieves the right information, orchestrates the required workflows, and prepares the necessary documentation automatically.

"InBridge AI is building the intelligence infrastructure for maritime operations, helping crews and shore teams turn fragmented information into clear, actionable guidance. We make it easier to find the right information, execute work consistently, and reduce the administrative burden of compliance," he said. 

The company's approach reflects the reality of modern maritime operations, where critical knowledge often lives in disconnected systems, technical manuals, regulatory documents, and institutional memory. When that information is difficult to access, even routine tasks become more complicated.

As Goyette explained, the challenge isn't a shortage of data, it's making the right information available when it matters most.

"We solve fragmentation problems in the maritime industry, where operations still rely on paperwork documentation, disconnected systems, and highly manual processes. Critical information is difficult to access when it matters, creating inconsistency in execution, and adding a growing administrative burden to crews already managing complex and safety-critical operations."

Like many founders solving deeply technical problems, Goyette didn't begin by building software. He began by listening.

When InBridge AI joined the Ocean Startup Project's Ocean Idea Challenge, the company was already speaking with maritime professionals to validate operational pain points while refining its enterprise platform and identifying where it could create the greatest impact.

That customer-first mindset aligned naturally with the Ocean Startup Project's approach to commercialization, where early conversations can be just as valuable as early code.

For Goyette, the greatest benefit wasn't a single workshop or introduction. It was becoming part of a community that understood the complexities of building for the ocean sector.

"The biggest difference was having access to an ecosystem of people who understand the ocean sector and could help us challenge our assumptions, make the right connections, and move faster. For an early-stage company, having the right conversations at the right time can completely change the direction and pace of progress."

Those conversations continue to shape the company's evolution. Rather than chasing a fixed roadmap, InBridge AI has embraced constant iteration, allowing every lesson from customers and every milestone to strengthen both the product and the business behind it.

"We're most proud of our ability to iterate and adapt quickly at every stage of the journey. That flexibility has allowed each milestone and lesson to build on the last, creating the compounding momentum that has brought us to where we are today," he said. 

For Goyette, however, building an ocean technology company has never been solely about creating better software.

He sees maritime operations as part of a much larger system — one that connects global trade, coastal communities, and the health of the ocean itself.

"I want more people to understand that building an ocean startup is about much more than business. The ocean supports life, communities, and the global economy. Protecting it and the people who work on it is one of the defining challenges of our generation. For me, building in this sector means contributing to something much bigger than a company," he added.

That perspective also shapes how InBridge AI views Canada's growing ocean innovation ecosystem. For the company, building alongside fellow founders, researchers, and industry leaders is about strengthening an industry that is becoming increasingly important to Canada's future.

As the company looks ahead, its vision remains remarkably consistent with the problem that inspired it in the first place: helping the people responsible for maritime operations spend less time searching for information and more time making confident, informed decisions.

"We're building toward a more connected maritime ecosystem, where every stakeholder can access better information, execute with greater consistency, and ultimately make our oceans safer through better, more compliant operations," he said. 

To learn more, visit inbridge.ai