Aquawise Revolutionizes Aquaculture Water Quality Monitoring with AI
Water quality remains a critical factor for the health and productivity of aquaculture farms globally. Traditional monitoring methods—such as manual water testing kits and sensor installations—are often prohibitively expensive for many farmers, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Bangkok-based startup Aquawise is addressing this challenge by deploying an innovative approach that leverages artificial intelligence and existing satellite imagery to provide continuous, cost-effective water quality monitoring without the need for additional hardware investment.
AI and Satellite Data Power Continuous Water Quality Tracking
Aquawise’s platform analyzes satellite images of fish and shrimp farms using a physics-based AI model. This model assesses critical water parameters including temperature, chlorophyll concentration, and dissolved oxygen levels.
Unlike traditional monitoring techniques that provide snapshots on a daily or weekly basis, Aquawise offers continuous real-time tracking and predictive insights, enabling farmers to respond proactively to environmental changes.
“Water quality is one of the most important things in aquaculture. It’s like being a human: You have to breathe. The aquatic life, they are living in the water all the time. If the water quality does not stay at the optimal level, it could cause stress, it could cause disease outbreak, and a lot of things,”
— Patipond Tiyapunjanit, Co-founder and CEO, AquawiseFrom Scientific Discovery to Startup Formation
The genesis of Aquawise traces back to 19-year-old Patipond Tiyapunjanit’s passion for shrimp and his research on shrimp larvae. His project won the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, fueled by mentorship from co-founders Chanati Jantrachotechatchawan and Kobchai Duangrattanalert, whom he met during the 2023 Young Scientist Competition.
Identifying water quality as the paramount issue affecting 80% of aquaculture farms—with losses estimated at nearly $30 billion annually—the trio founded Aquawise in 2024 to develop a scalable solution tailored to the needs of Southeast Asian farmers.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Southeast Asian Aquaculture
While aquaculture farms in developed markets like the US and Europe benefit from advanced water quality monitoring, many Southeast Asian farms lack access to affordable technology. Farmers often rely on weather reports and manual water checks, which are insufficient to prevent stress and disease outbreaks.
Aquawise initially explored sonar-based monitoring but pivoted after determining that such hardware would remain financially inaccessible. Instead, the company’s satellite-based AI model offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative that requires no on-site equipment.
“We want people, especially in Thailand and the whole Southeast Asia region, to feel that they can use it in order to improve their livelihood in terms of the community, the region, and the farm itself,”
— Kobchai Duangrattanalert, Co-founder, AquawiseOngoing Development and Market Entry Strategy
Aquawise is actively collaborating with multiple aquaculture farms to refine and validate its AI model’s accuracy. The company intends to finalize its platform before commencing commercial sales.
Looking ahead, Aquawise plans to pursue investor funding in early 2026 to accelerate growth and expand its footprint across Southeast Asia.
“Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector worldwide today,” Tiyapunjanit emphasized. “It was the one industry projected by the United Nations as the best way to help feed 10 billion people in coming years because of its ability to create high nutrition with very low amount of emission.”
Showcasing Innovation at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Aquawise will present its AI-driven water quality monitoring platform at the Startup Battlefield competition during TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27 to 29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West.
The event offers a platform for startups to pitch, network, and engage with key stakeholders in the technology and venture capital sectors.
FinOracleAI — Market View
Aquawise’s AI-driven, satellite-based water quality monitoring platform addresses a significant pain point in Southeast Asian aquaculture, a sector plagued by costly and inefficient traditional monitoring methods. By eliminating hardware costs and providing continuous, predictive analytics, Aquawise stands to disrupt the market and improve farm productivity and sustainability.
- Opportunities: Large underserved market in Southeast Asia; scalability across other developing regions; alignment with global sustainability and food security goals; potential to attract strategic agritech investors.
- Risks: Dependence on satellite data accuracy and availability; adoption barriers among smallholder farmers; competition from emerging sensor-based technologies; need for ongoing AI model refinement.
Impact: Aquawise’s innovation could significantly reduce economic losses in aquaculture by enabling proactive water quality management, fostering healthier aquatic livestock, and promoting sustainable farming practices in emerging markets.
