CargoKite develops autonomous micro cargo ships powered by airborne wind energy kites flying at 100-300 meters altitude, combined with hydrofoils and battery-electric auxiliary propulsion for emission-free maritime transport of containers, break bulk, ro-ro, and project cargo. The vessels target shortsea, feeder routes, and point-to-point connections to small ports inaccessible to large ships, enabling on-demand, traceable shipping for decentralized trade. Core technology includes proprietary AI route planning for real-time weather-optimized navigation and ETA predictions, plus synchronized kite-hydrofoil control systems as intellectual property. The company was founded in 2022 by students from the Technical University of Munich, including named founder Linnenweber. CargoKite raised a $15 million seed round to develop its 80-meter, 280 TEU catamaran vessel with automated kite propulsion and diesel-electric flexibility. Headquarters are in Munich, Germany, with an additional office in Lisbon.