Colm O’Brien, MSc Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Co-Founds Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering

Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering is delighted to celebrate the achievements of alumnus Colm O’Brien, who graduated in 2023 and recently co-founded Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering, an innovative startup focused on developing autonomous marine drones to address global biodiversity challenges. Colm, along with co-founders Will O’Brien, Akhil Voorakkara, and Jamie Wedderburn, is spearheading efforts to restore vital marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass populations, which are crucial for carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and supporting biodiversity.

Irish Roots: From Dublin to Global Impact

Although based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering’s first office was located in Dublin’s iconic St. Stephen’s Green, a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. This strong connection to Ireland continues, with the company’s first two internship hires being Trinity Engineering students, reflecting Ulysses’ commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.

Innovative Approach to Marine Restoration

At the core of Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering’s mission is a fleet of autonomous, AI-driven marine drones that can map, monitor, and restore seagrass meadows in coastal regions. By harnessing advanced robotics, the company aims to scale ecosystem restoration efforts in ways that were previously deemed unfeasible.

“We not only need to mitigate the damage that climate change has done to ocean ecosystems—we need to reverse it,” said Colm O’Brien, Ulysses' Chief Engineer.

“Our solution is a fully autonomous marine platform from which ocean ecosystems can be monitored, preserved, and restored. This enables coastal stewardship on an unprecedented scale, a task that would have been prohibitively expensive without autonomy and advanced robotics.”

A Bright Start and Global Recognition

Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering has already made a significant impact in the startup world, securing €2 million in pre-seed funding from leading venture capital firms, including one of the largest climate-focused investment funds, Lowercarbon Capital, led by prominent investor Chris Sacca. This funding will support the expansion of the company’s operations and further development of their ocean stewardship technology.

The company has garnered widespread media attention, with features in major publications such as RTÉ, The Irish Times, and TechCrunch, highlighting its innovative approach and the urgent need for marine biodiversity restoration.

Career Opportunities for Engineering Graduates

As Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering continues to grow, the company is actively recruiting top talent, particularly for Go-To-Market and Electronic Engineering roles, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Positions are open to both US citizens and residents.

For Trinity Engineering students and alumni eager to contribute to cutting-edge technology that tackles environmental challenges, Colm encourages them to apply at ulysses.eco/jobs or contact him directly via colm@ulysses.eco.

Bridging Academia and Industry

Reflecting on his time at Trinity College Dublin, Colm highlighted how the Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (MME) programme and his involvement with Formula Trinity equipped him with the essential skills to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions.

“Trinity introduced me to the idea of linking engineering with entrepreneurship,” O’Brien said. “The MME course taught me the prerequisite knowledge to succeed in both areas and acted as a launchpad into the fast-paced world of startups. Formula Trinity then put those lessons into practice, teaching me how to build anything on any budget and make it work.”

The School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin congratulates Colm O’Brien and his team at Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering for their innovative work and looks forward to following their continued success in the years to come.

For more information on Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering and their mission to restore marine ecosystems, visit ulysses.eco.