Tidepool, a South Korean tech startup specializing in sustainable aquaculture and transparent seafood distribution, has raised $1.07 million (KRW 1.5 billion) in pre-Series A funding from FuturePlay and BonAngels Venture Partners.

Tidepool operates two key products: the premium aquaculture seafood distribution and sales brand Fishfather and the AI-powered smart aquaculture solution Fishscope, which utilizes video recognition technology. This funding round was led by FuturePlay, with BonAngels Venture Partners participating again following their investment in a previous round. With this new investment, Tidepool has secured a total of over $1.29 million (KRW 1.8 billion) in funding to date.

The company has been growing rapidly, achieving over $3.57 million (KRW 5 billion) in revenue in 2024, just two years after its founding, through its Fishfather brand, which offers high-quality aquaculture seafood with a focus on transparency. Tidepool aims to expand beyond the domestic aquaculture seafood market, valued at $3.57–4.29 billion (KRW 5–6 trillion), to become a leading player in the broader East Asian market.

Globally, aquaculture accounts for approximately 53% of the total seafood supply, with the industry valued at around $285.7 billion (KRW 400 trillion). The shift from traditional offshore aquaculture to land-based smart aquaculture is accelerating due to challenges like climate change, environmental pollution, and an aging workforce. Against this backdrop, Tidepool’s smart aquaculture solutions are poised to play an increasingly critical role.

Jeon A-ram, Senior Investment Manager at FuturePlay, who led this funding round, said, “Climate change, environmental issues, and labor shortages are disrupting the traditional offshore aquaculture industry. Tidepool has the potential to transform the entire aquaculture value chain by combining AI-based technology development, on-site operations, and commercialization capabilities.”

Junho Lee, CEO of Tidepool, commented, “The Korean aquaculture industry has been stagnant for years, primarily due to its reliance on small-scale fishers, but it is now entering a new phase. This investment will enable us to streamline every stage of aquaculture seafood production and address inefficiencies and lack of transparency in distribution through technology and business innovation.”