Looking back, I can't believe that it was more than 5 years ago that we received the first commercial-ready shipment of 500 Pixies and Sprites. That was a very special day. We stacked the boxes to the ceiling in our small office and opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate. After years of planning and testing, it was finally happening, and we were going for it. Siren Marine quickly became the de facto standard for boat monitors and the Pixie and Sprite picked up numerous industry accolades.
Fast forward five years, and we are on the cusp of the next major breakthrough in boat monitoring, tracking and security systems. As we near the completion of our brand new next-generation device and platform, which will support wireless sensors and NMEA 2000 connectivity, plus many new enhancements; there is the anticipation and excitement of something completely new, the result of a massive amount of time, effort, engineering, investment, design and planning.
In addition to our new products and technology, the company has been preparing for a season of aggressive growth. We have added additional members to our team, our wonderful Third Street office space in Newport, RI continues to expand. We have just come off of one of our most successful boat show seasons to date, including our premier appearance at the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam, the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, and the recently completed Miami International Boat Show.
Siren Marine has signed a direct agreement with one of the world's largest cellular providers – Vodafone. This privilege is generally reserved exclusively for companies much larger than Siren. Our connectivity and services will be better and stronger than ever. We were recently awarded an Innovation Grant from the State of Rhode Island for continued development in collaboration with the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), and we closed a $1.5M Seed-Round capital raise that helped to fund recent product development and expansion. You may have noticed our new look and branding, which we feel better reflects our innovative technology. Although we are a little nostalgic to bid farewell to our beloved mermaid, we are thrilled to usher in our exciting brand update.
It has been an incredible journey, and our very best days are just ahead, as is our very best technology and products. The dedication, support and confidence of our fantastic customer base, investors and incredible Siren Marine Team have made it all possible. Our achievements wouldn't have happened without you all, and I'd like to express my deepest gratitude. 2017 will be the Year of the Connected Boat, the Year of Siren. Thank you.
Dan Harper
Founder & CEO