Aquatech Startup JALA Obtains Series A Funding of IDR 202 Billion Led by Intudo Ventures

Startups aquatech for the shrimp industry, JALA announced the acquisition of series A funding of $13,1 million (around Rp. 202,2 billion) led by Intudo Ventures, with participation from SMDV and previous investors, namely Mirova and Meloy Fund (Deliberate Capital).

JALA will use the fresh funds to expand its operations in Sumatra, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara—three regions that have unique potential for the growth of the shrimp farming industry. As well as, strengthening the technology in the JALA App with new features.

The company last announced funding in November 2021 of $6 million. A number of venture capitalists who focus on impact investing from several countries involved in this round, including The Meloy Fund (managed by Deliberate Capital from the United States), Real Tech Fund (from Japan), and Mirova (from France).

According to an official statement delivered today (28/11), JALA Co-founder and CEO Liris Maduningtyas said that the essence of JALA's mission is to pave the way for a sustainable Indonesian shrimp industry in the future. Support from Intudo and SMDV provides additional ammunition to realize this mission.

"This funding allows us to bring solutions to remote areas in Indonesia and equip local farmers with the technological support and funding they need to advance Indonesian shrimp production," he said.

Intudo Ventures Founding Partner Patrick Yip said, as the fourth largest shrimp producer in the world, Indonesia has an important role in the supply chain seafood globaly. As the shrimp industry in the country develops, the demand for modern shrimp farming solutions also increases.

“JALA's suite of digital solutions helps farmers create real economic value, increase aquaculture yields, and set the course for sustainable farming practices—bringing Indonesian shrimp to the global market. "We really support JALA in realizing its mission of digitalization and strengthening shrimp cultivation in Indonesia," added Yip.

JALA Development

JALA was founded in 2017 by Aryo Wiryawan (Chairman), who has been a shrimp farmer since 2001; and Liris Maduningtyas (CEO), who has an engineering background—both founded JALA after discovering obstacles in monitoring shrimp cultivation in Indonesia and dependence on traditional methods.

Based on the monitoring aspect, the JALA team has developed a complete solution for shrimp farmers that not only improves the economic aspect of shrimp farming itself but also contributes to environmental sustainability.

JALA provides a solution end-to-end to simplify the shrimp farming process—increasing productivity, efficiency and sustainability. Farmers can analyze cultivation based on real time data and integrated tools, as well as farm assistance, funding, quality inputs, and sales access to distribute the harvest to the market.

The solution starts from the JALA App, which is an important tool for shrimp farmers because it can help them monitor the cultivation process effectively. This application allows users to record, monitor and analyze every aspect of shrimp farming in real time, directly from the device mobile devices they.

This function provides complete data and progress tracking, helping farmers make the right decisions quickly. Through JALA's farm credit scoring service, farmers can also prove their credibility and gain access to affordable funding options.

For farmers at all scales, JALA provides harvest access services to help distribute their products to the market. Farmers can engage in a system that brings their crops to market, complete with fast and secure payment options. JALA also provides farm assistance in the form of guidance and direct support in overcoming daily challenges on the farm.

It is claimed that JALA is trusted by more than 20.000 users. Through the JALA App, the company has monitored shrimp in more than 35.300 ponds, helping farmers harvest large quantities of shrimp.

In the future, the JALA App will be equipped with more in-depth predictions of cultivation performance, water quality and shrimp diseases as well as automation of data input, such as data on shrimp weight and feed. JALA is also working with Conservation International to build the first Climate Smart Shrimp as a combined intensification effort with mangrove restoration for traditional shrimp ponds.