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Playbook & Handbook · February 6, 2026
Winning Accelerator Playbook 2026 by BambuUP
EDTECH: LEVERAGING AI-POWERED TECHNOLOGIES TO TRANSFORM THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
1. Technology overview
Tilla is a Berlin-based maritime software company founded in 2021 by Niklas Weidmann and Narayan Venkatesh. It targets the cost and manual effort of crew changes, which involve crew data, voyage schedules, port agents and flights for roughly ten million crew trips a year in shipping.
The AI-powered platform plans, monitors and optimises crew changes. It combines voyage schedules, crew details, port agency data, real-time flight information and travel requirements, with automated flight management, invoice management and reporting. It integrates with existing crew management systems and is used by Peter Dohle Schiffahrts-KG, Essberger, Stodig Shipmanagement, Wilson, EXMAR and Seatrade.
2. Highlighted features & specifications
- Crew change planning: Plans and monitors crew changes from voyage schedules, crew details and port agency data.
- Automated flight management: Finds and books flights using real-time flight information.
- Invoice management: Consolidates travel invoices for ship managers.
- Reporting: Cost and activity reports on crew changes.
- System integration: Connects with existing crew management systems.
3. Potential application
Vietnamese ship managers and manning agencies can plan and book crew rotations across many vessels. Shipowners with mixed-nationality crews can control flight cost per crew change. Fleet operators can reconcile travel invoices with crew management software.
4. Benefits
The company states ship managers can cut crew change costs by up to 24% and save up to 40% of the time spent. The platform has facilitated over 35,000 crew trips on more than 500 vessels in ten countries. Automated flight booking and invoicing reduce manual coordination.
5. Market trends & opportunities
Crew changes cost the shipping industry an estimated USD 12 billion a year and are still largely manual. The company plans expansion into APAC, a region with large seafarer pools including Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.
6. Other information
Founded 2021, Berlin. Total funding EUR 4 million after the July 2025 round (Motion Ventures lead, EXMAR strategic). Customers include Peter Dohle, Essberger, Stodig, Wilson, EXMAR and Seatrade.
