Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The Smart Pond(SP) is a Full-scale IoT solution best described as a Smart AI fish-farming Co-pilot. It comprises the SP IoT device, Corresponding accessories and the SP app.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Founded in 2023, Pysis Technologies is an innovative agricultural technology startup in Nigeria. We optimize diverse agricultural processes using technology, covering domains like livestock farming, arable farming, e-commerce, input production, logistics, supply chain, extension services, and mechanization. We are on a mission to be the major driver for attaining Zero Hunger in Africa by supporting our customers to implement sustainable agricultural practices that optimizes yield and maximizes profit. Our vision is to solve real life challenges within the agriculture value chain, through the deployment of artificial intelligence(AI), automated systems and Internet of things(IoT). Currently, our portfolio includes two flagship products: the Fishdey app (Fishdey.com) and the Smart Pond (SP) precision fish farming IoT solution.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

In 2022, Nigeria faced a substantial fish demand gap of 3.6 million metric tonnes, with local aquaculture contributing only 7% to meet this demand. This shortfall is primarily due to the inadequate adoption of advanced technology in the sector, which has led to widespread farming apathy, particularly among the youth population, a high mortality rate, low product quality and an estimated loss per production cycle of up to 35%. Although there are about 10 million Fish farmers in Nigeria, they are unable to meet the local demand that aquaculture could have met due to these challenges which also include high energy demand and resource(water and feed) wastage, escalating overall production costs by over 60%. The industry's challenges are further compounded by the lack of access to essential information for efficient fish production. The reliance on traditional methods for assessing fish growth rates results in significant errors and hampers informed decision-making.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

When the SP solution is deployed to a typical fish farm and integrated with corresponding accessories, such as water-level sensors, temperature sensors, automated feeders, dissolved oxygen sensors etc, mortality rate, human participation errors, wastage(water and feed) and power consumption are cumulatively reduced by up to 39% and running costs can drop by up to 32.7%.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The ideal Smart Pond (SP) solution customers encompass the 10 million fish farmers in the Nigerian aquaculture industry. It is also aimed at enthusiasts, investors, and stakeholders within the Nigerian, and by extension, the African fish farming community.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-02-28

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

With over a decade of experience, our diverse team specializes in developing, managing, and deploying IoT solutions across Nigeria. We are a crop of ambitious and highly skilled experts in business management, automated systems, machine learning, embedded systems and robotics known for exceptional execution and adherence to global best practices in meticulously researching and developing our solutions. Our mission is to address real-life challenges faced by farmers in Africa while ensuring profitability.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://pysistech.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

c) Industry (equipment, commercial, logistical and professional services, transport)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Pysis Technologies' core mission is to be a major driver for achieving Zero Hunger in Africa. Like the Smart Pond solution, our products directly address this goal by improving fish farming efficiency and potentially increasing production volume. Our solutions promote sustainable agricultural practices, efficient resource utilization, and increased food production.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

By creating innovative solutions like the Smart Pond, Pysis Technologies has the potential to create new job opportunities within the agricultural sector, particularly in areas like maintenance, support, and potentially fish processing. Additionally, increased profitability for farmers due to efficiency gains can lead to further job creation.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Pysis Technologies is a prime example of an innovative startup leveraging technology (AI, IoT, machine learning, robotics) to address challenges within the agricultural sector. Our work contributes to advancements in agricultural technology as a whole, which drive industry growth and improve infrastructure.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

The Smart Pond solution promotes responsible resource use by reducing water and feed waste in fish farming. Efficient resource utilization aligns with responsible consumption.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Pysis Technologies is at the forefront of innovation with the Smart Pond solution. It leverages new technologies but positions itself as a distinct offering by focusing on affordability and addressing the specific challenges faced by small-scale fish farmers in Africa. The Smart Pond is not simply an improvement; it directly responds to a previously unmet need within the agricultural sector, making it a truly innovative product with the potential to significantly impact the lives of fish farmers and contribute to regional food security.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

We currently do not have competitors for our smart Pond product. However, a significant number of fish farmers presently rely on manual and rudimentary approaches to manage various processes in fish farming. Even those utilizing technological interventions often do so peripherally, employing single accessories like temperature or dissolved oxygen sensors. However, due to the isolated use of these accessories, there is no centralized method to process collective data, refine it, and provide clear, data-driven analyses for informed decision-making. These conventional methods result in challenges such as uninformed decision-making, and a lack of routine monitoring, and testing, ultimately impacting yields and contributing to increased operational costs. Our solution employs IoT technology, smart sensors and actuators, for precision fish farming, as a central brain, it integrates real-time data from synchronized accessories, providing critical metrics for informed decisions.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Pysis Technologies actively supports female fish farm entrepreneurs. We partnered with a woman for our Smart Pond pilot, showcasing its potential for women in aquaculture. We offer special discounts to new female farmers, reducing the initial investment and encouraging technology adoption. Looking ahead, we're exploring workshops and training programs specifically designed to equip women with the skills needed to thrive in this field. We believe empowering women in agriculture is key to a more sustainable and prosperous future.