OceanIQ

The problem that OceanIQ is addressing is the environmental degradation and inefficiency in the rapidly growing aquaculture sector, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change.

In Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa, aquaculture production has grown by over 400% in the past decade, but poor farming practices have led to issues like excessive waste discharge, disease outbreaks, and high feed costs. This has contributed to environmental damage in coastal ecosystems. For example, in Tanzania, the shrimp farming industry has been linked to the destruction of over 10,000 hectares of mangrove forests, which play a critical role in coastal climate resilience.

Globally, the aquaculture industry accounts for over 50 million metric tons of food production, supporting the livelihoods of an estimated 20 million people. However, inefficient feeding and waste management practices have resulted in the release of an estimated 3.5 million metric tons of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution annually. This environmental degradation exacerbates the impacts of climate change, which are disproportionately felt by the 3.6 billion people living in vulnerable coastal regions.

By enabling precision aquaculture through real-time monitoring and optimization, OceanIQ's solution can help reduce the environmental footprint of this rapidly growing food production sector, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa.

OceanIQ's solution is an AI-powered monitoring platform that enables precision aquaculture to optimize productivity and sustainability for fish and shrimp farmers.

The core of the solution is a computer vision system that uses underwater cameras and sensors to continuously monitor key indicators of fish and shrimp health and growth, such as biomass, feeding behavior, and water quality parameters. This data is then analyzed using machine learning algorithms to provide farmers with real-time insights and recommendations.

For example, the computer vision system can accurately detect and track individual fish, allowing the platform to estimate the total biomass with an accuracy of up to 95% and monitor growth rates to within 5% of actual values. It can also identify signs of disease or distress, such as changes in swimming patterns or reduced feeding activity, with over 90% accuracy. This allows farmers to adjust feeding regimes, reduce waste by up to 30%, and intervene early to prevent disease outbreaks that can devastate entire harvests.

By providing this actionable data, OceanIQ empowers farmers to make more informed decisions that optimize productivity and resource efficiency. This leads to reduced waste discharge, lower feed costs by up to 20%, and ultimately, a more sustainable aquaculture industry.

The platform is designed to be affordable, with an installation cost of less than $1,500 per farm, and easily integrated with existing infrastructure, making it accessible to small-scale producers as well as larger commercial operations. OceanIQ's solution leverages edge computing and IoT technologies to enable real-time monitoring and analysis, even in remote, off-grid locations.

OceanIQ's solution primarily serves small-scale and subsistence aquaculture farmers in Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa. These producers account for over 80% of the region's aquaculture output, making up a market of approximately 3 million farms.

Many of these small-scale farmers in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa rely on manual, experience-based methods for monitoring and managing their fish or shrimp ponds. This leads to inefficient feeding practices, high rates of disease and mortality, and significant waste discharge that damages surrounding ecosystems. As a result, these farmers often struggle to maintain profitability and sustainable livelihoods.

OceanIQ's affordable, AI-powered monitoring platform directly addresses the needs of this underserved population. The aquaculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa is growing rapidly, with production increasing by over 400% in the past decade. However, poor farming practices have led to environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for technological solutions like OceanIQ's.

By providing real-time, data-driven insights on biomass, growth, and health, the OceanIQ solution empowers smallholder farmers to make more informed decisions that improve productivity and reduce environmental impact. These benefits translate to increased incomes, food security, and resilience for small-scale aquaculture producers, many of whom are women and youth.

OceanIQ is led by a diverse and experienced team that is deeply embedded in the communities it serves. The CEO, Vivian Mollel, is a lifelong resident of Tanzania's coastal Pwani region and has spent over a decade working directly with small-scale aquaculture farmers. Vivian's intimate understanding of the local context, challenges, and cultural nuances has been instrumental in shaping OceanIQ's human-centered design approach.

Joining Vivian on the leadership team are:

• Amina Ramadhani, the Chief Technology Officer, who grew up in a fishing village in Zanzibar and has extensive experience developing IoT solutions for rural communities.

• Rehema Mfinanga, the Head of Farmer Engagement, a social scientist from Mwanza who has spent years collaborating with aquaculture cooperatives to understand their needs and pain points.

• Khalid Mrisho, the Chief Operating Officer, a marine biologist from Dar es Salaam with deep expertise in sustainable aquaculture practices.

• Fatima Kibwana, the Chief Commercial Officer, an entrepreneur from Mtwara who has successfully launched technology-based ventures serving smallholder farmers.

This diverse, multidisciplinary team ensures that OceanIQ's solution is not only technologically robust, but also culturally relevant and responsive to the specific needs of its target communities. The team has spent countless hours conducting user research, co-designing prototypes, and integrating ongoing feedback from small-scale aquaculture farmers across Tanzania.

By centering the voices and lived experiences of these underserved communities, OceanIQ is well-positioned to deliver a transformative solution that drives sustainable impact at scale.

OceanIQ has launched its AI-powered aquaculture monitoring platform in several coastal communities in Tanzania, where it has been adopted by over 51 small-scale fish and shrimp farmers. The team has spent considerable time engaging with these early users, iterating on the product design, and refining the business model to ensure it meets the specific needs of the target population.

Through this initial pilot, OceanIQ has demonstrated the technical feasibility of its computer vision and IoT-based monitoring system, which has achieved over 90% accuracy in detecting key indicators of fish health and productivity. Farmers using the OceanIQ platform have reported reductions in feed costs by up to 20% and declines in waste discharge by 30%, showcasing the solution's potential to drive more sustainable aquaculture practices.

Additionally, the team has secured seed funding from local impact investors to support the continued development and scale-up of the technology. This investment has enabled OceanIQ to expand its field operations, train more farmers on the use of the platform, and gather valuable user feedback to inform future product enhancements.

While still in the pilot phase, OceanIQ has demonstrated strong early traction and a deep commitment to collaborating with its target communities to deliver a transformative solution that addresses the critical challenges facing the aquaculture sector in Tanzania and the broader region.

OceanIQ is applying to Solve for several key reasons beyond just financial support. Firstly, we are seeking to leverage Solve's extensive global network and partnerships to help us expand our reach and deepen our engagement with coastal communities in Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Solve community would provide invaluable opportunities to connect with other innovative teams, experts, and stakeholders working on sustainable aquaculture and blue economy solutions. This cross-pollination of ideas and best practices could help OceanIQ refine its technology, strengthen its human-centered design approach, and unlock new pathways for scale and impact.

Additionally, Solve's mentorship and capacity-building programs would be tremendously valuable in helping our team navigate the complex legal, regulatory, and cultural landscape of the aquaculture sector. Gaining guidance from industry leaders and policymakers could empower us to more effectively navigate these barriers and forge crucial partnerships.

While financial support from Solve would certainly be impactful in enabling OceanIQ to accelerate its pilot efforts and prepare for wider rollout, the non-monetary benefits of the Solve program are just as critical. Access to Solve's extensive network, technical expertise, and strategic advice would be instrumental in helping us unlock the full potential of our solution to drive sustainable change in coastal communities.

OceanIQ's solution stands out as an innovative approach to addressing the challenges facing small-scale aquaculture farmers in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa. Rather than relying on traditional, labor-intensive monitoring methods, the platform leverages cutting-edge computer vision and IoT technologies to provide real-time, data-driven insights that empower farmers to make more informed, sustainable decisions.

The key innovation lies in OceanIQ's ability to make precision aquaculture accessible and affordable for even the smallest-scale producers. By designing a scalable, edge-computing-based system that can operate in remote, off-grid locations, OceanIQ has overcome a critical barrier that has historically limited the adoption of advanced aquaculture technologies in these underserved communities. The platform can be installed for less than $1,500 per farm, making it 70% more affordable than comparable solutions on the market.

Furthermore, the solution's deep integration with the local context and co-design approach ensures that the platform's features and functionalities are tailored to the specific needs and constraints of small-scale farmers. This human-centered design process, combined with OceanIQ's emphasis on building trust and capacity within target communities, sets the stage for long-term, sustainable impact. The platform has already achieved a 90% user satisfaction rate among the 51 farmers participating in the pilot program.

If successful, OceanIQ's model could catalyze a broader shift in the aquaculture sector, demonstrating the transformative potential of affordable, AI-powered monitoring solutions. By showcasing tangible improvements in productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship - such as a 20% reduction in feed costs and 30% decrease in waste discharge - OceanIQ has the power to inspire other technology providers to develop similarly inclusive, community-driven innovations.

Moreover, the platform's open-source architecture and commitment to knowledge-sharing could enable the replication and adaptation of OceanIQ's approach in other regions, amplifying its positive impact on coastal communities and marine ecosystems worldwide.

OceanIQ's theory of change for addressing the challenges facing small-scale aquaculture farmers in Tanzania is grounded in three key pillars:

1. Affordable, AI-Powered Monitoring: By providing a low-cost, edge computing-based platform that leverages advanced computer vision and IoT technologies, OceanIQ empowers even the smallest-scale producers to access real-time, data-driven insights on the health and productivity of their fish or shrimp ponds. This enables them to make more informed, sustainable decisions.

2. Inclusive, Community-Driven Design: OceanIQ's solution has been co-created with extensive input from local farmers, ensuring that the platform's features, functionalities, and delivery model are deeply aligned with the unique needs and constraints of the target communities. This human-centered approach builds trust and long-term adoption.

3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: In addition to the technological solution, OceanIQ invests in training and supporting farmers on the use of the platform, as well as facilitating peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange. This empowers producers to become active agents of change within their communities.

The immediate outputs of this approach include increased access to precision aquaculture data, improved feeding and pond management practices, and enhanced local capacity to adopt and maintain the OceanIQ solution. These, in turn, are expected to drive key outcomes such as:

- Increased productivity and profitability for small-scale farmers (e.g., 20% reduction in feed costs, 30% decline in waste discharge)
- Improved food security and resilience for participating households
- Reduced environmental impact and enhanced sustainability of local aquatic ecosystems

Longitudinally, OceanIQ aims to catalyze a broader shift in the regional aquaculture sector, inspiring the replication and adaptation of its inclusive, technology-driven model to benefit millions of small-scale producers across sub-Saharan Africa.

OceanIQ's primary impact goals are to:

1. Improve the livelihoods and food security of 1 million small-scale aquaculture farmers in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
2. Reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture production in the region by 30% by 2030.

To measure progress towards these goals, OceanIQ has established the following key performance indicators:

Livelihood Improvement:
- Increase in average household income for participating farmers (target: 20% increase by 2025)
- Reduction in food insecurity among farming households (target: 50% reduction by 2027)
- Improved access to markets and value chain integration for small-scale producers (target: 75% of farmers linked to formal markets by 2030)

Environmental Impact:
- Decrease in feed usage per unit of production (target: 20% reduction by 2025)
- Reduction in untreated waste discharge into local water bodies (target: 30% reduction by 2027)
- Improvement in aquatic ecosystem health indicators (e.g., water quality, biodiversity) in areas where OceanIQ is deployed (target: 25% improvement by 2030)

OceanIQ is collecting both quantitative data (e.g., income, feed usage, water quality) and qualitative insights (e.g., farmer testimonials, case studies) to track progress towards these goals. The team works closely with local research institutions and government agencies to validate the data and ensure rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

Additionally, OceanIQ has embedded impact measurement as a core component of its platform, allowing farmers to continuously track key productivity and environmental indicators in real-time. This data-driven approach enables the team to quickly identify areas for improvement and make iterative enhancements to the solution.

At the core of OceanIQ's solution is a sophisticated, yet affordable, AI-powered monitoring platform that leverages computer vision and IoT technologies to provide real-time insights for small-scale aquaculture farmers.

The system utilizes a network of low-cost, solar-powered sensors and edge computing devices installed directly in the fish or shrimp ponds. These sensors continuously capture high-resolution images and video footage, which are then processed by OceanIQ's proprietary computer vision algorithms to detect and analyze key indicators of pond health and productivity.

Through machine learning models trained on extensive datasets of aquaculture imagery, the platform can accurately identify factors such as fish biomass, feeding behavior, water quality parameters, and the presence of disease or other issues - all without the need for complex laboratory equipment or extensive technical expertise from the farmers.

The edge computing architecture allows the system to operate autonomously, even in remote, off-grid locations where internet connectivity may be intermittent or unreliable. Sensor data is continuously synced to a central cloud-based dashboard, where farmers can access personalized, data-driven recommendations to optimize their feeding, stocking, and pond management practices.

By combining affordable hardware, advanced AI, and a user-friendly mobile app interface, OceanIQ brings the power of precision aquaculture within reach of even the smallest-scale producers. This technology-driven approach not only improves productivity and profitability for farmers, but also reduces the environmental impact of aquaculture through more efficient resource use and waste management.

Ultimately, OceanIQ's core innovation lies in its ability to democratize access to cutting-edge aquaculture monitoring solutions, empowering marginalized communities to become active stewards of their local ecosystems.

OceanIQ's solution team consists of:

Full-time Staff: 5
- 1 CEO
- 1 Chief Technology Officer
- 2 Software Engineers
- 1 Product Manager

Part-time Staff: 4
- 2 Field Operations Coordinators
- 1 Data Scientist
- 1 User Experience Designer

Contractors:3
- 1 Aquaculture Specialist
- 1 Graphic Designer
- 1 Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant

In total, the OceanIQ team has 12 members, comprising 5 full-time staff, 4 part-time staff, and 3 contractors with specialized expertise in areas such as aquaculture, data analysis, and user experience design.

OceanIQ has been working on its AI-powered aquaculture monitoring solution for the past 18 months. The core team initially came together in early 2022 to conceptualize and begin developing the platform. Over the course of the last year and a half, the team has expanded to include additional expertise in areas such as field operations, data science, user experience design, and aquaculture. During this time, OceanIQ has successfully launched its pilot program in several coastal communities in Tanzania, gaining valuable user feedback and iterating on the technology and business model to better serve the needs of small-scale aquaculture farmers.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values that are deeply embedded within OceanIQ's organizational culture and hiring practices. The leadership team is committed to building a diverse, high-performing workforce that reflects the communities the company serves.

Currently, the OceanIQ team is 60% female and 40% male, with representation from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The leadership team, comprising the CEO, CTO, and two department heads, is a 50/50 gender split. The team also includes individuals from both the coastal regions of Tanzania as well as inland areas, ensuring a range of perspectives and lived experiences.

To further strengthen diversity and inclusion, OceanIQ has established the following goals:

1. Increase representation of under-represented minorities in technical and leadership roles to 40% by 2025.
2. Introduce structured mentorship and professional development programs to support the career advancement of women and marginalized team members.
3. Implement unconscious bias training for all employees and incorporate inclusive hiring practices, such as blind résumé reviews and diverse interview panels.
4. Establish employee resource groups and regular feedback channels to better understand and address the unique needs and concerns of team members from diverse backgrounds.

In addition, the company's core values of collaboration, empathy, and continuous learning shape a welcoming and inclusive work environment where all voices are heard and respected. OceanIQ also provides flexible work arrangements, comprehensive health benefits, and family-friendly policies to ensure that team members can thrive both professionally and personally.

By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, OceanIQ aims to foster a high-performing, innovative team that can better understand and serve the needs of the communities it works with, ultimately driving greater impact and sustainability.

OceanIQ's business model is centered around providing affordable, AI-powered aquaculture monitoring solutions to small-scale farmers in Tanzania and the broader sub-Saharan African region.

The key customers are the 2.5 million small-scale aquaculture producers in Tanzania, who typically operate in remote, resource-constrained environments and lack access to advanced technologies and data-driven decision-making tools. OceanIQ's core product is a comprehensive monitoring platform that includes hardware sensors, edge computing devices, and a user-friendly mobile application.

The platform provides farmers with real-time insights on critical factors such as fish biomass, water quality, and feeding behavior, empowering them to optimize their production practices and improve overall productivity and profitability. Additionally, the system's environmental monitoring capabilities help farmers reduce their ecological impact through more efficient resource use and waste management.

OceanIQ's pricing model is structured to ensure accessibility for the target customer base. The hardware sensors and edge devices are available for a one-time installation fee of less than $1,500 per farm, which is around 70% lower than comparable solutions on the market. Farmers then pay a monthly subscription fee of $10-$15 to access the mobile app and cloud-based data analytics.

To date, OceanIQ has generated $31,000 in revenue from its pilot program, which has engaged 51 small-scale farmers across three coastal regions in Tanzania. The team is now focusing on scaling its sales and distribution channels to reach a wider network of producers, while also exploring partnerships with financial institutions and government agencies to further subsidize the technology for the most marginalized communities.

By delivering an affordable, inclusive, and data-driven solution, OceanIQ aims to unlock significant productivity and sustainability gains for small-scale aquaculture farmers, ultimately contributing to improved livelihoods, food security, and environmental protection across the region.

OceanIQ's plan for financial sustainability is built on a diversified revenue model that combines product sales, subscription fees, and strategic partnerships.

At the core of the model is the sale of OceanIQ's hardware sensors and edge computing devices. The team has set an affordable, one-time installation fee of less than $1,500 per farm, making the technology accessible to even the smallest-scale aquaculture producers. To date, OceanIQ's pilot program has generated $31,000 in hardware revenue from 51 participating farmers.

In addition to the hardware sales, farmers pay a monthly subscription fee of $10-$15 to access the cloud-based data analytics and mobile application. This recurring revenue stream provides a sustainable source of funding to support the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the platform.

To further bolster its financial sustainability, OceanIQ is actively pursuing strategic partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and financial institutions. Through these collaborations, the team aims to secure funding for subsidized hardware distribution and extended training/support services for the most marginalized farming communities.

For example, OceanIQ has recently secured a $47,000 grant from the Tanzanian Ministry of Fisheries to deploy its solution in 10 additional coastal villages over the next 18 months. The team is also in advanced negotiations with a regional microfinance institution to establish a structured loan program that would enable farmers to access the OceanIQ platform with affordable, flexible financing options.

Looking ahead, the company plans to explore additional revenue streams, such as data monetization and enterprise-level services for larger aquaculture operations. By diversifying its funding sources and maintaining a laser focus on cost-effective delivery, OceanIQ is confident in its ability to achieve long-term financial sustainability and scale its impact across Tanzania and beyond.