Dolphin Labs (USA) – Strategic-Technological Analysis

Dolphin Labs is an American deep-tech startup pioneering a new class of ocean-based energy platforms with dual-use applications in defense and sustainability. Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from CalWave Power Technologies, the company has developed the xNode – a compact wave energy converter designed to power remote sensing networks and subsea systems[1][2]. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Dolphin Labs is a small but highly specialized venture (fewer than 10 employees[3][4]) tackling one of the toughest challenges in maritime operations: providing continuous power and data connectivity in the open ocean without reliance on fuel or shore cables. By harnessing the untapped density of wave energy, the xNode aims to enable persistent surveillance and communications at sea, supporting everything from environmental monitoring to naval defense missions. Despite its U.S. roots, Dolphin Labs has quickly gained the attention of transatlantic innovation programs for its potential to bolster maritime domain awareness and protect critical offshore infrastructure. NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) selected Dolphin Labs as one of ten breakthrough dual-use companies in 2024[5][6], spotlighting its technology as a key enabler for safer, smarter oceans. This report examines Dolphin Labs through a European strategic lens – evaluating how its wave-powered platform could contribute to Europe’s defense autonomy, NATO interoperability, and the reduction of critical dependencies on non-allied suppliers, all in the context of an evolving security environment that values both green innovation and robust deterrence.