AQUAFEDHA is an initiative by Aquarech, Kenya's first fish farming platform, which has been instrumental in supporting small and medium-scale fish farmers. Founded in 2019 by CEO Dave Okech, along with co-founders James Odede and Joseph Okoth, Aquarech offers a mobile app that enables farmers, feed manufacturers, and buyers to trade, access quality fish feed, and learn best aquaculture practices. The platform also provides climate-smart precision fish feeding techniques, market access, technical training, and financial services, including a 90-day credit period for feed payments.
In November 2023, Aquarech secured $1.7 million in equity funding led by Aqua-Spark, with additional investments from Acumen, Katapult, and Mercy Corps Ventures. This funding aimed to enhance the platform's capabilities by hiring talent, acquiring more feed, and setting up infrastructure to support further vertical integration of their technology.
The launch of AQUAFEDHA marks a significant step towards providing financial solutions tailored to the needs of fish farmers, thereby promoting sustainable growth and development within Kenya's aquaculture industry.