CargoKite is a venture-capital backed deep-tech start-up developing emission-free, energy self-sufficient and autonomous micro cargo ships. The company was founded in 2022 by Amelie Binder, Marcus Bischoff and Tim Linnenweber. The team consists of engineers, builders and entrepreneurs anchored at the Technical University of Munich with the common mission to provide flexible and sustainable sea freight. The ship concept is based on the innovative combination of an Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) system and hydrofoils allowing for a transport capacity of 260 tons and emission-free operations under all conditions. The AWE-system consists of a flying wing, which is connected to the hull with a tether. With this system it is possible to harvest high-altitude winds to pull the ship. These have a probability of occurrence of over 95% and a higher energy density compared to those closer to the ground. Hydrofoils are wing-like blades, placed underneath the ship’s hull to reduce drag. They stabilize the ship, control the forces of the AWE-system and transform them into a flexible direction of motion. An innovative route planning algorithm, tailored to the new ship class, calculates the shortest route based on current weather data and precisely estimates the time of arrival using Artificial Intelligence. CargoKite will operate as a ship owner of a fleet of emission-free micro cargo ships that is developed by CargoKite and built in cooperation with a shipyard. These ships will be chartered out (leased) to shortsea shipping companies.