SeafoodAI, a startup focused on enhancing seafood sustainability through artificial intelligence and biometric technologies, has received a strategic investment from NEC X, the Silicon Valley venture studio affiliated with NEC Corporation. With this investment, SeafoodAI aims to scale its technology and accelerate the deployment of its AI-powered tools across global seafood supply chains.
The funding announcement comes on the heels of SeafoodAI’s graduation from NEC X’s Elev X! Ignite program, a startup accelerator initiative that equips early-stage companies with advanced technology, strategic mentorship and business development support.
Tackling Seafood Industry Losses through AI Integration
SeafoodAI is targeting inefficiencies in the global seafood industry, which suffers from an estimated US$ 50 billion in annual losses largely due to outdated and manual processes that impede regulatory compliance, traceability and operational efficiency. The company has initiated its efforts in the crab fisheries sector, a market valued at US$ 11.5 billion worldwide. Its primary solution, CrabScan360, applies AI-driven biometric scanning to automate crab measurement, sorting and data recording, replacing traditional methods that are often error-prone and labor-intensive. This automation enhances traceability, ensures streamlined regulatory compliance and provides accurate data to stakeholders throughout the supply chain.
“Seafood sustainability is no longer optional; it’s imperative. With CrabScan360, we’re digitizing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process, bringing accuracy, transparency and trust directly to the seafood industry. The strategic investment and technical expertise from NEC X significantly accelerate our ability to drive meaningful change across seafood supply chains.”
Enabling Scalable Sustainability in Seafood Supply Chains
With major retailers such as Whole Foods, Walmart and Costco committing to sell only sustainably certified seafood by 2027 or earlier, there is a growing demand for transparent and verifiable sourcing practices. SeafoodAI’s approach allows fisheries and processors to meet these requirements efficiently and at scale. CrabScan360 facilitates rapid adoption of sustainability certifications by digitizing processes that were previously manual, offering accuracy and transparency to the industry.
Strategic Alignment with NEC X’s Technological Expertise
Through the Elev X! Ignite program, SeafoodAI collaborated closely with NEC X to integrate advanced image recognition and artificial intelligence capabilities into its technology platform. SeafoodAI’s participation in Batch 9 of the program allowed for accelerated technical development and operational refinement. Shintaro Matsumoto, CEO of NEC X, noted that SeafoodAI’s biometric scanning technology offers scalable AI solutions to critical global challenges, reinforcing NEC X’s objective of fostering high-impact innovations across various sectors.
“SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing. Their biometric scanning technology unlocks new value across seafood supply chains by addressing global challenges with scalable, AI-driven solutions. We’re excited to support SeafoodAI’s journey toward redefining seafood supply chain standards.”
Product Development and Industry Partnerships
SeafoodAI has made rapid progress in expanding its technological capabilities and market applications. The company recently launched a beta version of its field scanner and is actively developing a digital logbook. It is also working to adapt its scanner technology for aquaculture use in partnership with the University of Mississippi. SeafoodAI has previously participated in Techstars’ Water Tech and Sustainability cohort and is a member of Blue Swell’s Sea Ahead program. Collaborative efforts with partners such as Hyperion aim to optimize the seafood scanner for industrial-scale factory automation.
Also read: AgroStar Secures Fresh Funding of $6.7M to Strengthen Farmer-Focused Tech Platform
SeafoodAI Building Digital Infrastructure and Expanding Market Reach
The company is constructing a scalable data infrastructure to support a digital verification marketplace that enables real-time data exchange among harvesters, processors, regulators and retailers. This infrastructure supports transparent supply chain operations and facilitates compliance with sustainability standards. SeafoodAI is also working with certification bodies and industry partners, including Aruna, ASIC and Where Food Comes From, to establish digital verification protocols across the seafood value chain.
Growth Strategy and Revenue Model
In addition to its current focus on the crab industry, SeafoodAI is expanding its biometric scanning technology to other seafood categories such as tuna, salmon and shrimp. The company is engaged in pilot discussions with various government agencies and has been recognized with the Open Sphere Startup Awards 2024. Its revenue model combines hardware sales with recurring software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscriptions, providing a pathway for sustained growth within the US$ 12 billion seafood technology sector.
