Palo Alto, California, U.S.A-based venture studio NEC X has announced a strategic investment in SeafoodAI, a startup which promotes seafood sector sustainability through real-time biometric data and AI-powered traceability.
“SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing," NEC X CEO Shintaro Matsumoto said. "Their biometric scanning technology unlocks new value across seafood supply chains by addressing global challenges with scalable, AI-driven solutions.”
SeafoodAI, a recent graduate of a startup incubator run by NEC X called Elev X, aims to help the seafood industry replace manual processing through AI-powered biometric scanning technology. The company’s first product, the CrabScan360, automates crab measurement, sorting, and data recording.
"This transformative solution significantly enhances traceability, simplifies regulatory compliance, and delivers precise operational insights to stakeholders across the supply chain," SeafoodAI said in a statement.
In addition to the scanner system, SeafoodAI plans to offer a data infrastructure which the company called “a trusted digital verification marketplace that connects harvesters, processors, regulators, and retailers, with real-time, actionable data.” The company’s revenue model relies on both hardware sales and recurring SaaS subscriptions to this digital verification platform.
"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," SeafoodAI CEO and Founder Rob Terry said in a statement. “The strategic investment and technical expertise from NEC X significantly accelerate our ability to drive meaningful change across seafood supply chains."
SeafoodAI is also developing new biometric scanning products for tuna, salmon, and shrimp.
The CrabScan360 is currently in the beta testing phase in collaboration with the University of Mississippi. The company is also working with Blue Swell’s Sea Ahead and recently graduated from Techstar’s Water Tech and Sustainability program.
