Key Takeaways:
- SeafoodAI has received a strategic investment from NEC X after completing the Elev X! Ignite accelerator program.
- The company’s biometric scanning tool, CrabScan360, is designed to automate and improve traceability in the crab fisheries sector.
- NEC X’s investment and AI expertise aim to support broader adoption of SeafoodAI’s technology across seafood supply chains.
- SeafoodAI is expanding into other seafood categories and developing a digital verification marketplace for industry stakeholders.
- The company operates on a hybrid revenue model combining hardware and SaaS, targeting the $12B seafood tech market.
SeafoodAI Partners with NEC X to Scale AI-Driven Seafood Verification Technology
SeafoodAI, a technology startup focused on sustainable seafood supply chains, has announced a strategic investment from NEC X, the Silicon Valley-based innovation hub supported by NEC Corporation. The investment follows SeafoodAI’s graduation from the Elev X! Ignite accelerator program, where the startup accessed technical guidance in AI and image recognition to accelerate product development.
The company’s flagship technology, CrabScan360, is a biometric scanning system designed to replace manual measurement and sorting of crabs. The tool provides real-time data for traceability, compliance, and efficiency, targeting a segment of the seafood industry valued at over $11.5 billion globally.
SeafoodAI Targets Efficiency and Sustainability in Fisheries
CrabScan360 Supports Automation and Certification Goals
The seafood sector experiences significant annual losses, estimated at $50 billion, largely due to inefficiencies in data capture and compliance verification. SeafoodAI’s CrabScan360 platform seeks to reduce these losses by offering automated scanning and digital recordkeeping for seafood processors.
The technology supports sustainability certification efforts by providing verifiable, real-time biometric data. This is especially relevant as major retailers—including Costco, Walmart, and Whole Foods—aim to source only certified sustainable seafood by or before 2027.
“With CrabScan360, we’re digitizing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process,” said Rob Terry, Founder and CEO of SeafoodAI.
NEC X Investment Supports Commercial and Technical Growth
NEC X’s investment in SeafoodAI reflects an alignment with its mission to support early-stage companies that apply advanced technologies to global challenges. The startup used the Elev X! Ignite program to further develop its hardware and software platforms, leveraging NEC’s artificial intelligence capabilities to improve scanning accuracy and performance.
“SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing,” said Shintaro Matsumoto, CEO of NEC X.
SeafoodAI Expands Product Pipeline and Strategic Collaborations
Beyond crab, SeafoodAI is expanding its biometric tools to other species, including tuna, salmon, and shrimp. The company is piloting aquaculture applications in collaboration with the University of Mississippi and developing a digital logbook for regulatory reporting.
SeafoodAI is also working with certification bodies and industry partners, including ASIC, Aruna, and Where Food Comes From, to develop integrated digital verification platforms. Additionally, the startup is collaborating with Hyperion to adapt its technology for factory automation environments.
