Aquaconnect Collaborates with StartupTN to Advance Blue Economy Initiatives in Tamil Nadu

Chennai-based aquaculture technology platform, Aquaconnect, has formalized a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with StartupTN to propel blue economy initiatives in Tamil Nadu. This collaboration aims to stimulate innovation and provide support for the growth of emerging startups in the aquaculture sector within the state.

In conjunction with StartupTN, which is supported by the Tamil Nadu government and Sathyabama University-Technology Business Incubator as the Incubation Partner, Aquaconnect unveiled 'The Fish Tank' at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet. This initiative, India’s Grand Aquaculture Innovation Challenge, seeks to catalyze innovation in the Indian aquaculture sector by offering a distinctive platform for early-stage startups and college students (UG/PG/PhD) to showcase their cutting-edge ideas globally and scale for impact.

The Fish Tank program encompasses various aspects of the aquaculture value chain, spanning both pre- and post-harvest stages. Applicants are encouraged to propose ideas related to affordable IoT/software-based solutions for monitoring water quality, daily feeding, animal health, biotechnological advancements to enhance production efficiency, seafood processing, preservation, and value addition, among other areas.

Sivarajah Ramanathan, Mission Director & CEO of StartupTN, highlighted the significance of StartupTN's Blue Economy Forum, emphasizing its role as a professional network fostering collaboration among government initiatives, academia, and industry players. The forum aims to drive transformative growth, making Tamil Nadu a hub for seafood-focused startups.

Rajamanohar Somasundaram, Founder & CEO of Aquaconnect, expressed optimism about FishTank as a pivotal step in nurturing young entrepreneurship and unlocking opportunities for exceptional talent in Tamil Nadu. The initiative will feature two winners, each receiving ₹1 lakh and the chance to collaborate with Aquaconnect for the launch and scaling of their solutions in the market.

Aquaconnect has garnered support from notable investors, including Omnivore Partners, Hatch Accelerator, Flourish Ventures, Rebright Partners, Agfunder, Lok Capital, LDC, Suneight Investments, and 6G Capital. The collaboration with StartupTN is anticipated to further accelerate Aquaconnect's mission to drive innovation and sustainability in the aquaculture sector.

HBL