Barcelona-based KOA Biotech, focused on improving disease management in aquaculture, has secured €2 million in funding led by Swanlaab Venture Factory, with support from Fund F by Female Founders. The investment will drive the advancement of its biosensor technology and AI-powered analytics.
- Established in 2021 by Sira Mogas Díez, KOA Biotech, a spinoff from the University of Pompeu Fabra, develops digital, autonomous testing technology for fish farms.
- The startup's onsite biosensor system continuously monitors water quality, using a hybrid technology that combines living organisms to detect pathogens and a micro-electronic interface to process the data. When a pathogen exceeds safe levels, the system sends early warning alerts to help prevent infections.
- KOA Biotech claims its solution monitors water 10 times more frequently than current methods, reducing fish mortality and cutting operational costs by 50% compared to traditional lab testing. The company is running live tests with customers and preparing for further deployments.
"Our mission is to redefine fish health management, enabling real-time infection detection to reduce fish mortality, minimize antibiotic dependence, and optimize aquaculture operations," KOA Biotech's team commented on LinkedIn.
Details of the deal
- The investment was led by Swanlaab Venture Factory, a Spanish venture capital firm investing in B2B startups, particularly in agri-food and enterprise software, and supporting Search Funds globally. Fund F by Female Founders and Faber also joined the round.
- The startup plans to use the funds to accelerate the development of its biosensor technology and AI-powered analytics, further advancing data-driven, sustainable aquaculture.
