Although a large share of global trade is carried by sea, many operational processes in the sector are still managed through spreadsheets, email correspondence and manually shared documents.
Singapore-based MagicPort, a maritime technology company founded by Azerbaijani entrepreneurs Ali Gara and Tural Aliyev, develops maritime data analytics and workflow automation solutions, particularly for port calls. A port call refers to the process of a vessel arriving at a port to load or unload cargo, take on supplies, undergo inspections or access other services.
These operations involve shipowners (ship operators), agencies, port authorities, suppliers, crew members and service providers working together. The use of different systems by these parties, combined with the sharing of time-critical information via email, messaging applications and spreadsheets, can reduce visibility, duplicate work and lead to costly errors.
MagicPort’s platform brings together vessel tracking, task coordination, document management, expense tracking and real-time sharing of operational data within a single system. The company is also developing AI-powered tools for administrative workflows and maritime data analysis.
The company was founded by Ali Gara and Tural Aliyev in 2021. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Gara worked at BP, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the International Finance Corporation. The founding team’s experience across energy, finance and investment, combined with access to Singapore’s extensive maritime ecosystem, has played a role in the development of the product.
Tural Aliyev, co-founder and CTO of MagicPort, leads the company’s technology and product development. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Aliyev was active in Azerbaijan’s technology ecosystem as co-founder and IT director of ITCITY, working across data analytics, application development and e-learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his team developed DiVOC, a hardware and software solution designed to facilitate remote education. His experience in technology, product development and education has contributed to the development of MagicPort’s digital infrastructure.
MagicPort initially focused on industry connections and data products before expanding its focus to the automation of port operations.
According to information shared by the company, the platform currently serves more than 300 companies across more than 80 countries. These figures point to growing demand for digital solutions that can deliver measurable efficiency in the maritime sector, where traditional ways of working remain deeply embedded.
In July 2026, the company announced a $3 million pre-seed investment round to further develop its port operations products and AI-powered platform. The round included INMerge Ventures, Sturgeon Capital, Hustle Fund, Everywhere Ventures, Transport Capital, Caucasus Ventures and maritime investor Scorpa Pranedya. Azerbaijan-founded Caucasus Ventures is also among MagicPort’s early-stage investors.
Operational, commercial and financial data generated during port calls are often stored across different systems. Bringing this information together in a unified structure could enable the development of new products in areas such as compliance processes, payments, supplier selection, risk monitoring and predictive decision-making.
Rather than replacing existing business relationships in the maritime sector, MagicPort’s approach is aimed at making these relationships more structured and traceable through digital infrastructure.
