#82 - OTI Venture Spotlight: Crustea

Aquaculture is one of Indonesia’s economic backbones, and shrimp sits right at the centre of it. Exports have made the country a global player, but behind those numbers are thousands of smallholder pond farmers navigating a daily trade-off between productivity, cost, and survival.

Crustea is part of a new wave of Indonesian startups trying to shift that balance. I first came across them through the NOA2 Narwhale Ventures accelerator, where they stood out as a venture blending technology with community roots. At its heart, Crustea is about giving pond farmers the tools to farm smarter, reducing costs, improving yields, and making shrimp cultivation more sustainable for the long run. Enjoy the Post:)

The Problem

Shrimp farming in Indonesia is both an opportunity and a pressure point. While demand is booming, the reality on the ground is tough:

• Energy costs eat into margins – aerators are essential to keep oxygen levels stable in ponds, but most are diesel-powered. For a medium-sized farm, monthly fuel bills can climb as high as Rp100 million, leaving farmers squeezed between market demand and rising expenses.

• Mortality is a constant threat – when oxygen levels drop, survival rates collapse. Some ponds lose up to 70% of their shrimp in a single cycle, wiping out months of work and income.

• The environment pays the price – diesel-powered aeration drives greenhouse gas emissions and locks farmers into a cycle of high cost and high impact.

• Smallholder farmers lack alternatives – Indonesia’s shrimp industry is dominated by smallholders who have limited access to affordable, scalable technologies. Without intervention, many are left managing inefficiencies that scale with the industry’s growth.

  
  

The Solution

Crustea’s approach is simple: make aquaculture technology that’s affordable, efficient, and built for the realities of smallholder farmers. Rather than reinventing shrimp farming, they’re tackling the core pain points head-on with a mix of hardware, software, and services.

• Eco-Aerator – a solar-powered, energy-efficient aerator that replaces diesel units. It can deliver up to 60–80% cost savings and improve oxygen stability, helping farmers cut expenses while boosting yields.

• EBII System – an IoT water-quality monitoring tool that tracks pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature in real time. By automating what farmers often monitor manually, EBII reduces risk and keeps ponds healthier.

• Smart Energy – a mobile-enabled system that allows farmers to monitor and optimise their energy use directly from their phone, adding another layer of control and efficiency.

Beyond the tech, Crustea also works directly with farmers through pond partnerships, consulting, and training programmes, while embedding women’s empowerment and community capacity building into its business model. Access to markets and funding support rounds out the offering, creating not just tools but a more resilient ecosystem for Indonesian aquaculture.

The Team & Partnerships

Team

• Roikhanatun Nafi’ah – Founder & CEO: Industrial Engineering (ITS), awardee of XL Future Leaders and LPDP Scholarship. Over 5 years’ experience in management and innovation, bridging engineering with business and farmer engagement.

• Rahmadita Filailli – Finance & Accounting Manager: Background in finance engineering (UCL) and industrial engineering (ITS). Over 4 years’ cost planning and control experience at WIKA and others. Ensures financial rigour and transparency.

• Riza Alaudin Syah – Co-founder & Technology Lead: Electrical Engineering (ITS) with focus on renewable energy, IoT, and aquaculture. Leads product development and technical support to adapt solutions to farmer needs.

• Ardiansyah – Design & Marketing: Product design (ITS) with 9+ years in engineering, automation, and project management. Strengthens brand visibility through creative design, digital campaigns, and customer engagement.

• Dian Martha – CMO: MBA (UGM), with experience in asset management at Astra and lecturing in digital business at BINUS University. Shapes marketing strategy, brand positioning, and partnerships.

Partnerships & Recognition

• Supported by P4G (grant funding to pilot solar-powered aerators and IoT systems).

• Collaboration with Su-re.co on climate-resilient aquaculture practices.

• Recognised by IIX as an impact enterprise with strong gender inclusion (majority women in management).

• Engaged with local aquaculture groups and cooperatives to ensure adoption among smallholder farmers.

Traction & Impact

Reach so far

• Serving hundreds of farmers across multiple ponds and regions in Indonesia.

• Technology already in use for shrimp cultivation and pilot projects under expansion.

Reported outcomes

• Energy efficiency: Up to 60–80% reduction in energy costs with Eco-Aerator (site-dependent).

• Productivity gains: Partner data suggests up to 200% improvement in shrimp size/quality under optimised pond conditions.

• Emissions reduction: Crustea cites ~23,000 tCO₂e avoided through reduced diesel use.

SDG alignment

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: supporting farmer incomes and resilience.

• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: improving food security via more efficient aquaculture.

• SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy: replacing diesel with solar-powered systems.

• SDG 13 & 14 – Climate Action & Life Below Water: reducing emissions and environmental impacts.

Community impact

• High representation of women in management (materials cite ~60%).

• Ongoing empowerment programmes, training, and capacity-building workshops for aquaculture communities.

Future Possibilities & Ask

Current focus

• Actively fundraising through an equity round, interested investors can connect directly with the founder.

• Scaling deployment of Eco-Aerators, EBII systems, and Smart Energy solutions across Indonesia.

Near-term opportunities

• Expansion to support Indonesia’s national ambition to significantly increase shrimp production in the coming years.

• Growing partnerships with utilities, cooperatives, and development programmes to reach more smallholder farmers.

Longer-term potential

• Entry into global aquaculture markets with scalable clean-tech solutions.

• Integration of circular economy approaches, including waste valorisation and value-added shrimp/fish processing.

• Strengthening policy advocacy through partnerships like Su-re.co and international climate resilience networks.

Collaboration and Investment Opportunities 

Closing Remarks

Crustea links of technology, sustainability, and community in aquaculture. By focusing on practical solutions for smallholder shrimp farmers, they’re tackling one of Indonesia’s most pressing Blue Economy challenges with tools that are both affordable and impactful.

With early traction, clear social and environmental benefits, Crustea is a venture worth watching, whether you’re an impact investor, an agritech operator, or simply interested in how the future of seafood can be grown more sustainably.

Semoga beruntung - Get in touch! 

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