# YC Ventures

> YC Ventures is a Dubai-based diversified investment company built on a maritime core. It owns and operates dry-bulk ships, manages technical and crew operations for a wider fleet, and recycles the returns into technology ventures spanning maritime fintech (Shipfinex), marine e-commerce procurement (Shipskart), lithium energy storage (Terranova), and youth leadership education. Led by Group CEO Yasovardhan Chinni, the group works across the UAE, India, Singapore, Nigeria and the USA under the operating idea of owning the asset, running the voyage, and compounding the capital into the next venture.

- **Founded:** 2018
- **Headquarters:** Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- **Founders:** Yasovardhan Chinni (Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director)
- **Team size:** Group-wide 1,000+ crew across managed fleet; small corporate/venture team (reported ~3 at the holding-company level)
- **Products:** Aequor Shipping, Seaknotiq Ship Management, Nan Lian Ship Management, Shipfinex, Shipskart
- **Notable:** Yasovardhan Chinni named Maritime Innovator of the Year at the Innovation & Startup Summit & Awards, Dubai (April 18, 2024)., YC Ventures won Excellence in Marine Innovation at the same 2024 Dubai summit., Group reports 50+ ships managed, 1,000+ crew, 150+ voyages, 10M+ tons cargo moved and $65M+ in owned assets.

## Products & services

- **Aequor Shipping** — Commercial dry-bulk shipping operations - chartering, voyage management and cargo movement across the group's owned and managed vessels.
- **Seaknotiq Ship Management** — Technical and crew ship management with an ISM/QHSE focus, aiming to modernize vessel management through technology and a people-first approach.
- **Nan Lian Ship Management** — Ship management firm offering vessel, crew, commercial and technical management services - the operating foundation Chinni built before YC Ventures.
- **Shipfinex** — Blockchain platform for fractional maritime asset ownership via Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs); YC Ventures / Chinni is a backer. Raised $1.5M seed and partnered with Tokeny and VARA.
- **Shipskart** — Marine procurement e-commerce marketplace connecting vessels, owners and ports to suppliers across 40+ countries and 500+ partners; reports ~20% cost reduction.
- **Terranova Green Energy** — Lithium technology and energy storage venture - inverters, industrial UPS, solar PCU, battery energy storage systems and EV battery packs.
- **Start Young CEO** — Youth leadership and entrepreneurship education initiative within the group's venture studio.

## Achievements

- Yasovardhan Chinni named Maritime Innovator of the Year at the Innovation & Startup Summit & Awards, Dubai (April 18, 2024).
- YC Ventures won Excellence in Marine Innovation at the same 2024 Dubai summit.
- Group reports 50+ ships managed, 1,000+ crew, 150+ voyages, 10M+ tons cargo moved and $65M+ in owned assets.
- Backed Shipfinex's $1.5M seed round (2024) to build blockchain-based fractional ship ownership.
- Portfolio company Shipskart raised $2.7M Series A (2022) and operates across 40+ countries with 500+ partners.

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Shipfinex, backed by Chinni, closed a $1.5M seed round and announced a partnership with Tokeny for maritime asset tokenization.
- **2024-04** — Yasovardhan Chinni named Maritime Innovator of the Year and YC Ventures recognized for Excellence in Marine Innovation in Dubai.

## Links

- Website: https://ycventure.us
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ycventures/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/yc-ventures
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-30