About BLUEiQ

Transforming undersea sound into actionable intelligence

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The BLUEiQ Team standing on a dock.

What we do

At the heart of our team lies a dynamic blend of seasoned professionals and visionary innovators, committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and business development.

Our team is composed of veterans in business development and technical leadership, boasting extensive experience across relevant sectors. We bring unparalleled expertise and strategic insight, ensuring robust growth and sustained success.

We are driven by a proven track record of innovation and entrepreneurship within the technology domain.

Our passion for innovating new solutions and ventures fuels our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Our strength lies in our ability to cultivate and lead high-performing teams. We are dedicated mentors and adept team builders, fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and achievement.

As wizards in technological innovation, we are at the forefront of driving advancements in the field of sensors and sensing. Our relentless pursuit of cutting-edge solutions propels us to set new standards and shape the future of technology.

BLUEiQ’s s based in Boston, Massachusetts, Newport, Rhode Island, and Gulfport, Mississippi

Our Values

Innovation

Leveraging advanced AI and edge computing to create cutting-edge solutions for underwater acoustic monitoring.

Experience

A wealth of knowledge and expertise in marine technology, defense, and environmental monitoring.

Commitment

Focused on protecting marine ecosystems, enhancing port security, and improving operational efficiency.

Collaboration

Working closely with customers to tailor solutions that meet their specific needs and challenges.

Meet the Founders

Sea-Level Experts

At BLUEiQ, we are charting new frontiers in acoustic AI sensing and edge intelligence, redefining how we understand and interact with the underwater sound world. Our team is a fusion of seasoned experts, visionary innovators, and relentless problem-solvers, united by a mission to push the boundaries of technology for defense, maritime security, and biodiversity intelligence.

Kim Gavin, CEO
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From space satellites to seafloor sensing, Kim has spent 20+ years pushing the boundaries of sensor innovation, tech transition, and strategic growth across government, industry, and think tanks. A leader in emergent technologies, she thrives on turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact. As a mentor ambassador for women in science and technology, she’s not just shaping the future—she’s driving BLUEiQ to redefine persistent sensing with innovative impact.

Rob McGurrin, CTO
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With 20+ years of expertise in underwater acoustics and signal processing, Rob leads the technical development of OpenEar technology, driving innovation from R&D to real-world deployment. A proven innovator with patented advancements, his work bridges cutting-edge AI sensing with practical solutions. Passionate about maritime domain awareness and noise pollution reduction, Rob ensures BLUEiQ’s technology is both impactful and mission-driven.

Awards

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August 1, 2024

2024-2025 Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Incubator

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August 29, 2024

2024 Office of Naval Research (ONR) RISE-UP - Winner

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October 7, 2024

2024 Ocean Exchange Award - Finalist

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January 15, 2025

BLUEiQ Awarded CRADA by NOAA in January 2025

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Testimonials

A Ripple Effect

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HSWRI is collaborating with BLUEiQ to track bottlenose dolphins living in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, now at risk due to human-generated pollutants. BLUEiQ’s cutting-edge OpenEar software-defined recording system is the best solution available to help us. BLUEiQ is pushing the boundaries of low power and AI technology within the field of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). As a team, we are planning a PAM-based observatory to track dolphins using their vocalizations as they move up and down the IRL. We may be able to monitor behaviors and identify individuals, assisted by BLUEiQ’s AI. BLUEiQ’s go-the-extra-mile participation and innovation has led to significant advancements in multi-use applications of OpenEar. Not only is it ideal for PAM, its low-power real-time sensing capabilities, enhanced by AI, make it a valuable tool for environmental monitoring and port/harbor security.
Ann Bowles Chief Scientist
Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute (HWRWI)
I became acquainted with and later supported Kim Gavin via Clean Tech Open NE mentor program. I am quite impressed with her entrepreneurship and "emotional intelligence" as a startup founder. BlueIQ has potential and Kim is the type of founder that one could bet on.
Millicent Pitts CEO
Ocean Exchange
BLUEiQ participated in Gulf of Maine Research Institute's BlueTech Boost Incubator, a 10-week program tailored to support early-stage BlueTech companies in the Northeast Atlantic region. The program provided mentorship, grant funding, and GMRI research staff as technical advisors. During their participation, BLUEiQ focused on developing their v1 prototype, crafting a plan for in-water testing, and honing their product-market fit. The team demonstrated professionalism, eagerness, and ambition. Kim and Rob, who have a longstanding collaborative track record, showcased a robust partnership. While still early in their journey, they have made significant strides, securing strong traction through early pilots and refining their business model. We admire their mission, which aligns closely with our research focus at GMRI. They established a positive rapport with our science team, suggesting potential for future research collaborations. We enthusiastically support their progress!
Lucy Barrett Program Manager
Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)
It’s an honor to give my highest recommendations to BLUEiQ based on two decisive reasons from my ongoing experience working with Team BLUEiQ as a member of the BLUE Incubator at Blue Innovation Labs, and as a BX4 Cohort graduate from the BLUE Excelerator program at the Blue Institute: 1) Team - this team is seasoned, knowledgeable, amiable, and persistent - they are passionate about their tech and utilize professional follow-through like no others. 2) Tech - this is not your Grandfather’s Hydrophone - it is so much more. The long term impact trajectory for BLUEiQ vs. their competitors is clear for ocean species survival, offshore wind development, port and marine transport security, and national security applications. ps. If you don’t take the time to understand the tech and it’s impact for the ocean and other underwater environments then you haven’t read through their Executive Summary pages which covers that - in detail. Team + Tech = BLUEiQ Winner
Judith Underwood Founder
Blue Institute & Blue Incubator
Participation in the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, RI demonstration highlighted BLUEiQ as a premier innovator in real-time actionable intelligence with OpenEar, our software-defined hydrophone solution for persistent, autonomous, ubiquitous marine sensing and monitoring.
Providence Business Journal
Both Kim and Rob were fantastic to work with and eager to learn about any applications their product could improve. They have the skills needed to run a successful business. I believe that they can modernize the passive acoustic world by bringing real-time data at an affordable price. I look forward to working with them in the future and would recommend their services to anyone looking to expand their passive acoustic capabilities.
Aaron Whitman

Wave-Making Allies

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