Maduningtyas is an inspiration to many women in the aquaculture sector © Jala
The round was led by Intudo Ventures, with participation from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV), and existing investors Mirova and Meloy Fund (Deliberate Capital).
Founded in 2017, Jala* provides farmers with a suite of advanced technology services, including in-depth aquaculture analysis built off real-time data and connected equipment, as well as access to farm assistance, farm financing, high quality supplies and inputs, and marketplace services to bring harvest to market.
The Jala app enables effective monitoring of the shrimp farming processes. This application allows users to record, monitor, and analyse every aspect of their shrimp farming in real-time, directly from their mobile device. This functionality provides farmers with comprehensive data and progress tracking, assisting them in making well-informed decisions promptly.
Through Jala’s farm credit scoring service, farmers are also able to prove creditworthiness and gain access to affordable financing options.
Jala says that it offers harvest access services to help farmers of all sizes bring their product to market. Farmers can tap into a streamlined system to bring their harvest to market, complete with fast and secure payment options. This service facilitates easy access to markets, ensuring that farmers receive prompt and fair payment for their produce. Jala also offers farm assistance, which gives farmers the direct guidance and support they need in tackling day-to-day challenges in their farms.
Jala is led by a team of experienced aquaculture entrepreneurs and farmers, including co-founders Aryo Wiryawan (chairman), who has been a shrimp farmer since 2001; and Liris Maduningtyas (CEO), who brings an engineering and technical background—the duo created Jala after recognising the difficulty of monitoring shrimp cultivation in Indonesia and over-reliance on traditional methods.
Building off monitoring, the team built Jala’s full suite of solutions for shrimp farmers to not only improve the economic aspects of shrimp farming but also contribute to environmental sustainability.
"Paving the way to a sustainable future for Indonesia's shrimp industry is at the heart of Jala's mission. With the backing of Intudo and SMDV, we are more thrilled than ever to amplify our efforts. This funding will enable us to bring our end-to-end shrimp farming solution to remote areas in Indonesia and equip local farmers with the technological and financial support they need in advancing the country's shrimp production,” said Liris Maduningtyas, co-founder and CEO, in a press release.
Trusted by over 20,000 users, Jala has made a significant impact in the shrimp industry. Through its flagship app, Jala has monitored shrimp across more than 35,300 ponds, aiding farmers in harvesting a substantial volume of shrimp. In the future, Jala says that its app will feature more in-depth predictions for cultivation performance, water quality, shrimp disease prediction, and automation in data inputs such as shrimp weight data and feed data.
Jala has also collaborated with Conservation International in building the first Climate Smart Shrimp, a combined intensification effort with mangrove restoration for traditional shrimp farms.
Geographical expansion
With this round of financing, Jala plans to scale up its operations across key regions of Indonesia, including Sumatera, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara - three areas that have demonstrated unique potential for the growth of the shrimp farming industry.
“As the world’s fourth-largest producer of shrimp, Indonesia plays a critical role in the global seafood supply chain. With the continued evolution of the country’s shrimp industry, the demand for modern cultivation solutions has risen in tandem. Jala’s suite of digital solutions helps farmers create tangible economic value, increasing farming yields, and leading to more sustainable cultivation practices—bringing Indonesian shrimp to global markets. We’re excited to support Jala in their mission to digitise and strengthen shrimp farming in Indonesia,” said Patrick Yip, founding partner, Intudo Ventures.
*Jala is part of Hatch's investment portfolio but The Fish Site retains editorial independence.
