Ace Aquatec II

Welfare-improving technologies for the aquaculture industry

Investment overview

Impact category

Blue economy

Investment type

Loan

Yearly interest

8.55

Term

months

Risk level

B+

What will you be financing?

Ace Aquatec is focused on delivering solutions to overcome key challenges in the aquaculture industry, such as excess mortality rates on fish farms, poor fish welfare, high prevalence of parasites, seal attacks and escapes, as well as fish experiencing a high degree of stress and suffering at the point of harvest. Farmers also run their production cycles with very limited data and are unable to empirically identify areas for improvement & increased yield.

This campaign seeks to co-finance Ace Aquatec's ambitious plan for 2025, including hiring more staff and additional production of highly specialized devices marketed to end clients (100 new cameras, and 36 new stunners). This campaign will enable Ace Aquatec to continue its mission to introduce more responsible farming methods globally. The funds raised will work as an advance payment on a 1,2 million euro grant awarded by Innovate UK, and its equity round.

This is the promoter's second campaign after previously raising 500.000 in Ace Aquatec, which was fully settled.

The "A-Biomass", an advanced underwater camera system, promises to transform the way fish farmers across the globe monitor and grade their fish stocks by using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time millimeter accuracy. The fully automated camera is smaller than many on the market, weighing in at just 8.5kg, and has been proven to withstand the harshest environmental conditions, having been developed and tested in Scotland’s most northerly waters.

Ace Aquatec's cameras use point cloud technology to track fish, simultaneously differentiating individuals from the shoal. Continuous measurement of fish size in the grading process reduces feed waste, meaning less impact on the immediate environment and efficiency savings for farmers. The system can also be operated remotely so fish stocks can be monitored from anywhere in the world, reducing the need to be on site.

The camera system is the promoter’s latest addition to the company's suite of high-welfare technology products and offers fish farmers a convenient, reliable, and cost-effective way to estimate fish biomass without handling or manual intervention. The "A-Biomass" for Salmon is the first camera in the series, with modules for Trout, Seabass, and Tilapia to follow in 2025.

The Innovate UK grant will be used to focus on developing sealice removal system based on AI cameras and stunning technology. AI cameras will track lice on the fish in real-time in the cage. Then lice detected will trigger an alert to bring in the new Electrolicer. This is a modified electric stunner, configured to use electric fields to relax the muscles of the fish, to prevent them from returning up the pipe, and an ejector pump, which will create a vortex to dislodge lice and eggs. These dislodged lice and eggs will then be captured in a filter, and the cleaned fish will be returned to the cages. The project includes building 3 pilot systems to be deployed in Chile, Norway and UK.

What is the impact?

Direct

Promote more sustainable marine economic activities: Ace Aquatec systems result in improved fish welfare for 20,000 fish per day on average in the 40 farms using this technology. Fish weight and distribution data are gathered through the Biomass cameras with real-time image and artificial intelligence (AI), which are important indicators for grading and harvesting the fish, enabling optimised feeding and supporting diseases prevention. At the same time, Ace Aquatec predator control solutions aim to protect fish without harming possible predators or other non-target animals. By enhancing energy efficiencies and reducing emissions, these technologies lower aquaculture's carbon footprint
Implement sustainable and resilient food production systems: Through reducing feed waste and excess mortalities in the fish production chain, Ace Aquatec systems contribute to increased productivity and production in aquaculture. Their analytics solutions provides enhanced transparency and traceability of the food production system.
Job creation: with the goal of improving the smart farming technology and continue growing, Ace Aquatec plans on hiring people for 16 new positions, among them data sales, engineering and technical personnel.

Indirect

Promotion of responsible aquaculture: Ace Aquatec offers safe and rapid fish stunning methods that reduces fish stress and meet welfare standards for humane stunning. In farms that implement Ace stunner solutions, a significant staff welfare and working conditions improvements can be observed.

Impact indicators
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CO2 avoided per year

clean energy

created by our projects

of sustainable

impacted

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
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About the Promoter

About

Ace Aquatec Limited

Direct

Promote more sustainable marine economic activities: Ace Aquatec systems result in improved fish welfare for 20,000 fish per day on average in the 40 farms using this technology. Fish weight and distribution data are gathered through the Biomass cameras with real-time image and artificial intelligence (AI), which are important indicators for grading and harvesting the fish, enabling optimised feeding and supporting diseases prevention. At the same time, Ace Aquatec predator control solutions aim to protect fish without harming possible predators or other non-target animals. By enhancing energy efficiencies and reducing emissions, these technologies lower aquaculture's carbon footprint
Implement sustainable and resilient food production systems: Through reducing feed waste and excess mortalities in the fish production chain, Ace Aquatec systems contribute to increased productivity and production in aquaculture. Their analytics solutions provides enhanced transparency and traceability of the food production system.
Job creation: with the goal of improving the smart farming technology and continue growing, Ace Aquatec plans on hiring people for 16 new positions, among them data sales, engineering and technical personnel.

Indirect

Promotion of responsible aquaculture: Ace Aquatec offers safe and rapid fish stunning methods that reduces fish stress and meet welfare standards for humane stunning. In farms that implement Ace stunner solutions, a significant staff welfare and working conditions improvements can be observed.

Promoter website

https://www.aceaquatec.com

Team
‍

[{"id":151,"promoter_id":309,"name":"Nathan Pyne-Carter","description":"Nathan has developed the business from a £20k turnover into an investor-backed business; he is also named inventor on ten company patents. He holds a BA Hons from Clare College, Cambridge University and was recognized with the Tayside and Fife IoD Regional Director of the Year Award in 2020, and the National Director of the Year for Innovation Award in 2019. Nathan spearheads the strategic and creative vision for the company.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-pyne-carter-b013a769/","role":"Chief Executive Officer","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/69e/217/e14/69e217e14bdd8094752834.png","avatar_id":221174},{"id":152,"promoter_id":309,"name":"Alan Macleod","description":"Alan brings over 20 years’ experience in financial leadership across diverse sectors including technology, construction, energy and oil & gas. Before Ace Aquatec, he served as a Director at N4 Partners and as CFO and board director at Allrig, where he led a major international businesses re-organisation Alan’s extensive experience in strategy, finance, and transformation drives value in complex, competitive markets. Alan leads financial strategy and performance to drive sustainable growth and profitability.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-macleod-35820436/","role":"Chief Financial Officer","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/69e/217/f82/69e217f821777287042407.png","avatar_id":221175},{"id":153,"promoter_id":309,"name":"Keith Davidson","description":"Keith has over 35 years’ experience in leading global technology teams across various sectors. He has managed teams in the USA, Canada, India, China, Europe, and Asia, and has worked with technology companies at every stage, from start-ups to multinational corporations. Keith leads technology strategy and innovation to drive product performance and scalability.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithadavidson/","role":"Chief Technology Officer","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/69e/218/046/69e21804688c8822752809.png","avatar_id":221176},{"id":154,"promoter_id":309,"name":"Tara McGregor-Woodhams","description":"Tara has over 29 years of experience in building brands and running high-profile marketing strategies for FTSE 100 clients in the UK and Internationally. Prior to joining Ace Aquatec, she headed up Brand strategy Marketing and Communication teams at Aegon and Standard Life. She led full-service agency teams for clients including Shell, Diageo, Adidas, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and Cadbury Schweppes in the UK and India. Tara leads commercial strategy and marketing to drive brand growth and impact.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-mcgregor-woodhams-14b3539/","role":"Chief Sales & Marketing Officer","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/69e/218/1a5/69e2181a584db549912940.png","avatar_id":221177}]

Business Model
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