Key Points
- AquaExchange raises ₹67 crore in Series B funding led by Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics
- Company claims 85 per cent crop success rate on technology-enabled farms versus 55-60 per cent industry average
- Platform now monitors over 80,000 acres of aquaculture farms across India and three international markets
Vijayawada-based aquaculture technology company AquaExchange has raised ₹67 crore ($8 million) in Series B funding to expand its farm automation platform across India and international markets. The round, announced on Monday, was co-led by Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics, with existing investor Accion Ventures also participating.
The funding comes as the company claims to have become the first aquaculture technology firm in India to automate more than 25 per cent of the country’s shrimp farms. AquaExchange says its platform now monitors over 80,000 acres of aquaculture operations across five Indian states and three international markets: Ecuador, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar.
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For India’s shrimp farmers, many of whom are small-scale operators in coastal Andhra Pradesh, the technology promises to address a persistent challenge: unpredictable crop losses due to disease outbreaks and water quality issues. The company claims farms using its full platform achieve crop success rates of approximately 85 per cent, compared with an industry average of 55–60 per cent.
How the Technology Works
AquaExchange has built a platform that combines IoT devices, which are internet-connected sensors placed in farm ponds to continuously measure water quality, with artificial intelligence software that analyses the data to predict potential disease outbreaks before they occur.
The system alerts farmers through a mobile application when conditions in their ponds require attention. The company also provides on-ground advisory services, with field staff visiting farms to assist with technical issues.
Beyond monitoring, the platform offers what the company calls embedded finance, a model where financial services such as crop loans and working capital are integrated directly into the technology platform. This aims to help farmers access formal credit from institutions that have historically been reluctant to lend to the aquaculture sector due to perceived risks.
The company says it has also developed crop disease insurance frameworks in partnership with insurers. Working with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), AquaExchange created what it describes as India’s first shrimp farm risk scoring framework to help banks assess creditworthiness of aquaculture borrowers.
Revenue Growth and Profitability Plans
AquaExchange projects revenue of ₹275 crore for the current financial year ending March 2026. The company says its technology division revenues have grown sixfold over the past year, though it did not disclose absolute figures for this segment.
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The company expects to achieve EBITDA profitability, meaning positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, within the current financial year. This would mark a significant milestone for a venture-funded agricultural technology company in India, where many such firms continue to operate at a loss.
Pavan Kosaraju, founder, AquaExchange, said the funding would help consolidate the company’s position in India while expanding technology exports. “We aim to equip many more small and medium aquaculture farmers with the latest technology tools, including proprietary AI services to offer predictive disease monitoring solutions,” he said.
International Expansion and Traceability
The company has been onboarded as a technology partner by three of the world’s largest shrimp producers, though it did not name them. Its international operations span Ecuador, a major shrimp exporting nation, along with Saudi Arabia and Madagascar.
AquaExchange is also working on digital traceability systems that track seafood from farm to consumer. The company is collaborating with organisations including the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and aligning with international certification standards such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Founded by Kosaraju along with Hemasundar Dhavili, Kareem Mohammod and Kiran Bandi, AquaExchange is headquartered in Vijayawada, placing it close to Andhra Pradesh’s extensive shrimp farming belt. The state accounts for a significant share of India’s total shrimp production.
Ocean 14 Capital, an impact investment firm focused on ocean-related industries, continues to support the company from previous funding rounds. The firm’s involvement shows growing investor interest in aquaculture as global demand for protein rises while wild fish stocks decline.
AquaExchange has indicated plans to expand beyond shrimp farming into other agricultural asset classes where it believes its technology platform can be applied. The company has not specified which sectors it is considering or provided a timeline for such diversification.
Your Questions, Answered
What does AquaExchange do?
AquaExchange provides technology for shrimp and aquaculture farms, including IoT sensors that monitor water quality and AI software that predicts disease outbreaks. The platform also offers embedded financial services such as crop loans.
How much funding has AquaExchange raised in Series B?
AquaExchange raised ₹67 crore ($8 million) in its Series B round, co-led by Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics with participation from Accion Ventures.
Where does AquaExchange operate?
AquaExchange operates across five Indian states and three international markets: Ecuador, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar. The company is headquartered in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
What crop success rates does AquaExchange claim?
The company claims farms using its full technology platform achieve crop success rates of approximately 85 per cent, compared with an industry average of 55–60 per cent.
