Summary: Aquawise, a Bangkok-based startup, is revolutionizing water quality monitoring for aquaculture farms in Southeast Asia by using AI and satellite imagery—no expensive hardware needed. The company’s innovative platform offers continuous, real-time insights into water conditions, helping farmers protect their livestock and reduce costly losses. Aquawise will be showcasing its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco this October.
A Smarter Way to Monitor Aquaculture Water Quality
For aquaculture farmers, maintaining healthy water quality is essential to keeping fish and shrimp thriving. Traditional methods like sensors and water testing kits can be costly, especially for farmers in regions like Southeast Asia. Aquawise aims to change that by providing an affordable, AI-driven solution that leverages satellite imagery—eliminating the need for hardware purchases.
The Story Behind Aquawise
Patipond Tiyapunjanit, a 19-year-old co-founder and CEO of Aquawise, first developed a passion for shrimp that led to a research project on shrimp larvae. While presenting at the 2023 Young Scientist Competition, he connected with co-founders Chanati Jantrachotechatchawan and Kobchai Duangrattanalert, who became advisors and collaborators. Their project won the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, inspiring them to tackle a major industry challenge.
Why Water Quality Matters in Southeast Asia
“Water quality is one of the most important things in aquaculture,” Tiyapunjanit explains. “Aquatic life depends on it—poor water quality can cause stress, disease outbreaks, and significant losses.” While farms in the U.S. and Europe often have access to monitoring technology, many in Southeast Asia rely on manual checks and weather reports, which aren’t always reliable. This gap results in nearly $30 billion in losses annually.
How Aquawise Uses AI and Satellites
Aquawise’s platform analyzes satellite images of fish and shrimp farms using a physics-based AI model to monitor key water quality indicators such as temperature, chlorophyll levels, and oxygen content. Unlike traditional methods that provide daily or weekly data, Aquawise offers continuous monitoring along with tracking and predictive insights. Initially, the team explored sonar technology but realized it was too costly for many farmers.
Looking Ahead: Growth and Impact
Currently working with multiple farms, Aquawise is refining its AI model to ensure accuracy before launching commercially. The startup plans to raise investment capital in the coming year to expand its reach. “Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector worldwide,” says Tiyapunjanit. “It’s projected by the United Nations as a key solution to feeding 10 billion people sustainably, thanks to its high nutrition output and low emissions.” Aquawise aims to empower farmers across Southeast Asia to improve their livelihoods and communities.
Join Aquawise at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Aquawise will be featured in the Startup Battlefield competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. If you want to see Aquawise’s innovative technology firsthand, along with dozens of other exciting startups, workshops, and networking opportunities, be sure to grab your ticket before the Oct 17 flash sale ends to save up to $624.