Founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Subnero has evolved into a global leader in underwater technology, offering high-performance solutions for communications, navigation, monitoring, and sensing. Subnero co-founder Prof. Mandar Chitre (Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, NUS) describes the driving force behind the company: “While mankind has made progress in communicating effectively on land and air using technology based on radio waves, our ability to communicate reliably in water is still extremely limited. Subnero is leading the charge in changing this.”

To bridge this gap, Subnero has pioneered the development of software-defined underwater acoustic "smart" modems. Unlike legacy point to point technology, these adaptable systems serve as the backbone for the Underwater Internet of Things (IoUT), enabling reliable wireless networks for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), subsea engineering, defense applications and many more. The company's breadth of solutions includes the Wireless Networked Communications (WNC) series: ranging from the high-speed S40H to the long-range L12L, and the UnetStack software framework, which empowers users to customize protocols for any environment.

Today, Subnero’s impact extends far beyond its home base. The company has customers across 5 continents globally, serving sectors ranging from defense and oil & gas to environmental research.

Despite its global success, Subnero maintains a proud connection to its roots. Built initially upon technology licensed from the Acoustic Research Laboratory (ARL) of the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), the company retains a strong NUS DNA. Many key team members, including Manu Ignatius (CEO) and Chinmay Pendharkar (CTO) are NUS alumni and/or former staff. NUS Enterprise continues to support Subnero’s journey through technology licensing, facilities at The Hangar, and strategic networking opportunities. This trajectory of success marked a significant milestone in the company’s maturity.

Having graduated from NUS Hangar, Subnero moved into new premises in 2022. With this new base, the company is now in the process of scaling up—enhancing its operational capabilities, expanding its team, and broadening its global footprint. Learn more at subnero.com