HydroNeo

HydroNeo operates in the aquaculture technology sector, providing a smart farm management system specifically targeting the challenges faced by shrimp farmers. The company was founded in Germany in 2018 by Fabian Reusch and Dominique Dymke. The initial concept grew from a research project for an indoor shrimp farm, which highlighted the significant issues in traditional shrimp aquaculture in Asia. Founder and CEO Fabian Reusch's journey began with a personal passion for aquaculture, raising his first shrimp in high school in 2005. This early interest evolved into a mission to apply technology to solve real-world farming problems.

The company's core offering is an IoT-enabled system that allows for the real-time monitoring and control of shrimp farm operations. This system includes hardware controllers with sensors for critical water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and temperature. This data is transmitted to a mobile application, the "HydroNeo Digital Farm App," which provides farmers with alerts and the ability to automate equipment like aerators and pumps remotely. By automating aeration based on real-time oxygen levels, the system can reduce energy costs by up to 30%. A 2023 study by the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand indicated that farmers using HydroNeo's solution increased their productivity by 13% through better survival rates and growth.

HydroNeo operates on a multifaceted business model. It manufactures and sells its IoT hardware system to shrimp farms. Alongside this, it has developed a mobile app that follows a freemium model. The app's basic features, such as a digital logbook and weather tracking, are free, while premium features are available through in-app purchases. This structure allows farmers to access digital tools without an initial hardware investment. The company primarily serves small and medium-scale shrimp farmers in Southeast Asia, with Thailand being its initial pilot market, a decision supported by the Thai government and seafood leader Thai Union Group. HydroNeo has since begun expanding into India and Indonesia. The company also engages in partnerships, such as a profit-sharing arrangement to promote insect-based shrimp feed and an integration with FAI's shrimp welfare assessment framework into its app.

The company has achieved several key milestones, including securing an investment from Thai Union Group's CVC fund in 2020. In 2022, it received further investment from Rockstart AgriTech VC and TK Partners VC to fuel its expansion across Southeast Asia. HydroNeo established market leadership in Thailand with its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and has been recognized with awards like the GreenTech Award at the UOB Finlab Showcase Day. Its headquarters are in Bangkok, Thailand. Keywords: aquaculture technology, shrimp farming, smart farm management, IoT sensors, water quality monitoring, farm automation, AgTech, precision aquaculture, shrimp health, mobile farm app, real-time data, sustainable aquaculture, dissolved oxygen sensor, pH monitoring, remote farm control, aquaculture management system, Southeast Asia aquaculture, feed conversion ratio, livestock technology, shrimp welfare