Aquaconnect has partnered with StartupTN in a significant move to foster innovation and support the growth of startups in Tamil Nadu’s aquaculture sector. The collaboration, supported by the Tamil Nadu government and Sathyabama University, also marks the initiation of “The Fish Tank,” India’s Grand Aquaculture Innovation Challenge.
“The Fish Tank” aims to promote innovation in the Indian aquaculture domain by providing a distinctive platform for early-stage startups and college students to showcase their forward-thinking ideas globally and scale for impactful contributions. The program encompasses various aspects of the aquaculture value chain, allowing applicants 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.
The top ten candidates selected will have the opportunity to participate in an incubation program at Sathyabama TBI, gaining access to resources and mentorship support. Additionally, they will be integrated into StartupTN’s blue economy network, which includes fisheries research and development institutes, academic institutions, and facilities across the state. Two winners of The Fish Tank will receive a cash prize of 1 Lakh (100,000 rupees) each, along with the chance to collaborate with Aquaconnect to launch and scale their solutions in the market.
Sivarajah Ramanathan, mission director and CEO of StartupTN, expressed in a press release, “StartupTN’s blue economy forum is the first of its kind professional network to promote collaborative efforts between government initiatives, academia, and industry players, which will drive transformative growth, making Tamil Nadu a hub for seafood-focused startups.”
Rajamanohar Somasundaram, founder and CEO of Aquaconnect, commented on the collaboration, stating, “The collaboration with StartupTN underscores our commitment to accelerating blue economy initiatives in Tamil Nadu. We are excited to witness how this will unfold and impact the sector on a large scale. Being the second-largest producer globally, India’s aquaculture sector holds enormous potential, and it needs wider participation from forward-thinking individuals. I believe FishTank will be a pivotal step in fostering young entrepreneurship and unlocking the doors for incredible talent in Tamil Nadu.”
