Aquamonk voted Most Investible Business as Ireland’s first Hatch Accelerator draws to a close

Aquamonk, an Indian based start-up that uses real-time monitoring and data management for shrimp farming, has been voted Most Investible Business at the Hatch Accelerator Demo Day . The event held today ( Thursday 6th December) to an audience of Irish and international investors at Dogpatch Labs, Dublin and via a livestream, marks the final day of the first Accelerator programme for aquaculture held in Ireland, and only the second such progamme in the world.

The intensive three-month programme, run by Hatch and supported by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency, under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, was based in Cork city.  Start-ups from the UK, US, Canada, Chile and India benefited from mentorship from experts in the fields of aquaculture, technology, finance and marketing.

Jim O’Toole, CEO  BIM, spoke at the Demo Day and said:

“This programme represents a new phase of innovation for the Irish seafood sector. Three of six Hatch start-ups look likely to continue to operate their global aquaculture business from Ireland. This shows we’re making progress in our ambition to lead in aquaculture innovation. The demand for seafood and moreover for high quality seafood is growing. This places Ireland in prime position. Almost 15,000 adults work in the sector in Ireland. It’s at the heart of many of Ireland’s coastal communities and the focus on innovation will benefit the entire sector.”

Alune, an aquaculture investment business that allows access to high liquidity investment opportunities in aquaculture, incorporated its business in Ireland days before starting the Hatch Accelerator for Aquaculture.   A further two of the six start-ups that took part in the Hatch Accelerator, are currently at advanced stages of trying to establish their global aquaculture business HQs in Ireland.

Wayne Murphy, COO Hatch said:

“Taking Hatch to Ireland has been a hugely positive experience. All of the start-ups have gained from the expertise and support they received during the last three months as has been made clear at today’s Demo Day.”

Aquaculture is the fastest growing form of animal protein production in the world. 2017 saw the value of aquaculture in Ireland increase by 24% to €208m according to the BIM Business of Seafood.

Left to right: Carsten Krome, CEO Hatch, Kranti Chand, Aquamonk, Richard Donnelly, BIM