Selected as a winner of France Travail’s inaugural Innov’Ultramarin Challenge, the Martinique-based startup is using artificial intelligence to build a digital platform designed to connect Caribbean nautical operators and travellers.
A startup born in Martinique is taking its vision of Caribbean maritime innovation to one of Europe’s biggest technology stages. MiBelBoat, an AI-powered nautical booking platform, has been selected to participate in VivaTech 2026 and received the Passeport Technologique Trophy as a winner of France Travail’s first Innov’Ultramarin Challenge.
Founded by Martinique entrepreneur Alexis Mompert and co-founder Aurélien Filin, MiBelBoat aims to address a longstanding gap in the region’s nautical industry: the absence of a unified digital ecosystem capable of connecting travellers, boat operators and tourism stakeholders across the Caribbean.
An Idea Rooted in Operational Experience
The project builds on several years of field experience gained through Boat Paradise, a company specialising in premium nautical experiences in the Caribbean. Working closely with operators, marinas, tourism professionals and customers allowed the founders to identify recurring challenges that continue to shape the sector.
Despite the Caribbean’s global appeal as a tourism destination, many nautical reservations are still managed through phone calls, emails and messaging applications, creating fragmented customer journeys and limiting the visibility of local operators.
MiBelBoat seeks to simplify this experience through a centralised platform integrating online booking, automation and artificial intelligence.
Building a Caribbean Maritime Hub
According to the company, the platform already brings together around 500 boats across eight islands and has generated more than 3,000 reviews, with a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Beyond the booking experience, MiBelBoat has also developed AI-powered tools designed for operators. The system can respond to customer enquiries around the clock, qualify leads, generate quotations and automate follow-ups, enabling fleet owners to manage commercial activity more efficiently.
The company describes its ambition as the creation of the Caribbean’s first dedicated maritime hub, developed from Martinique but designed for regional deployment.
Innovation Serving the Blue Economy
The startup’s ambitions extend beyond technology. Through greater visibility and more streamlined booking processes, MiBelBoat believes it can help nautical businesses generate activity more consistently throughout the year, supporting local employment and reducing the sector’s dependence on peak tourism periods.
France Travail Martinique has also highlighted the potential economic benefits of such initiatives, pointing to opportunities for skippers, maintenance personnel, hospitality professionals and emerging digital skills linked to the blue economy.
A New International Milestone
MiBelBoat’s participation in VivaTech follows several milestones in its development journey, including its selection for the INCOPLEX Outre-Mer programme, support from Le Village by CA Martinique-Guyane, and participation in French Tech Capital Days Miami and eMerge Americas.
For the Martinique-based startup, VivaTech represents more than a showcase opportunity. The event offers access to investors, institutional partners and international technology ecosystems that could help accelerate its development.
At a time when digital transformation is increasingly reshaping maritime and tourism services worldwide, MiBelBoat’s journey illustrates how innovation emerging from the Caribbean can seek not only to serve local markets, but also to contribute to building more connected and integrated regional maritime ecosystems.
