Eric Laakmann is Co-Founder and CEO of Vessev, an Auckland-based deep tech marine company building electric hydrofoiling vessels that reduce energy consumption by up to 90% and are redefining sustainable maritime transport.

Eric built his career at Apple, leading engineering programs across three generations of the Apple Watch, before taking a sailing sabbatical that covered 30,000 nautical miles and brought him to New Zealand.

A lifelong sailor and electrical engineer, Eric holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and brings a rare combination of consumer hardware and maritime expertise to a long-stagnant industry.

Since joining Vessev in 2021 as Lead Engineering Program Manager before ascending to CEO, Eric has guided the company through the launch of the VS-9, the world's first certified electric hydrofoiling passenger vessel, and a $19M Series A led by Blackbird Ventures.

Under Eric's leadership, Vessev has secured commercial deployments across New Zealand, Australia, Northern Ireland, and the US, with FlyTahoe named as its first American customer, positioning Vessev to transform how 33 million vessels worldwide transition to zero-emission transport.