A woman-led tech solution in aquaculture: The Crustea case

Nafi’ah’s journey into aquaculture and marine technology began with a visit to a local small-scale shrimp farm in Indonesia. She saw that fishing communities, often the backbone of the local economy, were trapped in a cycle of unpredictable harvests, largely driven by poor water quality and high energy costs – a cycle compounded by the growing threat of climate change. They lacked access to resources and technology that could secure a sustainable future.

At the shrimp farm, she witnessed a family’s livelihood vanish overnight when an entire harvest failed due to poor water conditions. Nafi’ah realized that the farmers were relying on traditional methods without real-time monitoring systems, leaving them highly vulnerable to losses.

Determined to change this, Nafi’ah developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-powered water quality monitoring system to provide real-time data. This innovation led her to found the aquaculture technology company Crustea. 

As a woman founder in a male-dominated industry, she faced several challenges. Establishing credibility required working twice as hard. “I often found myself the only woman in the room,” recalls Nafi’ah. “Investors would direct technical questions to my male colleagues, assuming I wasn’t the expert behind the innovation.”

Crustea’s solutions combine smart, IoT-based water quality monitoring, energy-efficient aeration systems and artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to give farmers unprecedented control over their ponds, enabling them to optimize shrimp and fish production. Its business model – a mix of hardware sales, software subscriptions and an innovative rental system – ensures that even the smallest-scale farmers can access cutting-edge solutions.

Since its 2022 launch, Crustea has supported more than 700 shrimp and fish farmers across Indonesia and beyond, empowering them with technology-driven solutions to boost efficiency and sustainability. Its products have helped farmers achieve up to 40 per cent higher productivity while reducing operational costs by up to 80 per cent. By integrating renewable energy and smart aquaculture systems, Crustea has already helped avoid more than 23,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, advancing climate action.

The company has instituted training programmes for women entrepreneurs in aquaculture to strengthen their skills in fish farming, processing fishery products and transforming shrimp and fish waste into high-value products. These initiatives have directly helped more than 100 participants establish independent businesses and increase family income.

“I was determined to prove, through our product’s impact, that expertise is not defined by gender. At Crustea, we are making aquaculture smarter, greener and more inclusive,” says Nafi’ah.

Through UN Women’s Climate Tech Accelerator, supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea, with a contribution from the CHARLES & KEITH Foundation, Nafi’ah gained essential business skills and access to a powerful network of mentors and peers. The Accelerator also gave her a platform to showcase her expertise and gain visibility, boosting her confidence to claim her space.

“Crustea is advancing sustainable aquaculture practices and creating new employment opportunities for women in the sector, driving both economic and social impact. The Accelerator facilitated her networking outreach, helping her connect with impact investors dedicated to supporting women-led, climate-resilient ventures and to access new funding opportunities,” says Katja Freiwald, Lead, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Migration at the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Nafi’ah’s message to other aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women in climate tech, is clear: “You belong in this space. Climate tech needs diverse perspectives, and women bring valuable insights that can drive innovation. Don’t be afraid to assert your expertise, seek mentorship and build a strong network.”