Teesside AI Firm Helped By Successful Business Programme Agrees Deal With Global Tech Leader

A Teesside-based AI company supported by an innovative accelerator programme has secured landmark deal with a global technology specialist.

Middlesbrough firm Seer has sold its AI workflow platform Flytta – a digital joint venture it runs with Casper Shipping – to London-based AI technology company Sedna.

Flytta is an automated digital trade product which cuts customs processing time for goods into the UK. It allows businesses to process thousands of customs declarations instantly using AI models.

Seer has been part of the Forge programme through Tees Valley Labs – a 12-week accelerator delivered by Teesside business consultancy Alt Labs, on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, which has helped companies primed to scale up and attract significant investment.

Flytta originated as an in-house solution at Casper Shipping, designed to streamline internal operations before being further refined and commercialised by Seer into a scalable AI-powered workflow platform.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Having a company at the cutting-edge of technology and trade striking a big international deal is brilliant – and this shows the sheer amount of talent and expertise we have on Teesside.

“There is a concerted push to put AI industries at the forefront of how we grow as a nation – and this takeover shows how businesses are forging ahead, developing and growing right on our doorstep. It’s also great that Seer has been part of our Forge programme which has helped steer their growth and tapped into their expertise.

“This is great news for Seer, Casper Shipping and Teesside – and I hope Flytta continues to have more success on the back of this takeover.”

The deal expands Sedna’s UK presence with a new office in the Tees Valley, with the company investing in the region’s growing AI talent base to accelerate product development.

The Flytta acquisition means Sedna now has six offices around the globe in Athens, Cape Town, Copenhagen, London, Singapore and Middlesbrough.

“We’re excited to open our new Middlesbrough office, tapping into the exceptional talent in Northern England to drive the next wave of AI innovation in global trade,” said Bill Dobie, CEO of Sedna.

“This investment strengthens our AI capabilities while reinforcing the UK’s position as a leader in digital trade transformation.”

Michael Shakesheff, MD of Casper Group, said: “Flytta began as an internal innovation within Casper Shipping, addressing real-world operational challenges.

“With Seer’s expertise, it evolved into a scalable product, and now, through Sedna’s ambitious AI vision, it has the opportunity to drive transformation across the broader maritime and trade industries.”

Support for the Tees Valley Labs programme is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Imran Anwar, Tees Valley Business Board lead for the Digital Economy and CEO and Founder of Alt Labs, said: “Sedna’s acquisition of Flytta marks a transformative step forward in the use of AI in the global shipping industry.  The development of this technology highlights the ground-breaking digital work taking place in the Tees Valley.

“Seer have been part of the Forge cohort of Tees Valley Labs programme, and I’m delighted to see the ground-breaking opportunities this partnership will bring to the growth of Seer, and the longer-term growth in the Tees Valley.

“By combining Seer’s innovative spirit with Sedna’s strategic vision, it’s not just merging two companies, they’re setting the benchmark of technological advancement, growth and inward investment to the region.”