With an invention that looks like it came straight out of a Hollywood film, a start-up based in California is aiming to help protect the Middle East's seas.
Aquaai's robots look like fish and swim like fish, but they also carry a payload of cameras and sensors that the company says could hold the key to providing better data on the health of oceans, rivers and streams.
The company says the same technology, in turn, could help propel the growth of businesses and the economy.
Aquaai has opened a branch in the UAE through the assistance of Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem.
Liane Thompson, chief executive and co-founder of Aquaai, puts her own unique spin on the model on which the company operates.
"We're an SaaS model," Ms Thompson said, referring to software as a service, the licensing model used by various technology companies .
"We call it FaaS, fish as a service," she added.
Aquaai leases its proprietary fish robot and software data platform to clients, who include research institutions and fish and aquaculture farms.
"[Other fish and ocean life] embrace it, thinking it's one of them, so they're not afraid," said Ms Thompson.
The company was founded in the US in 2014, and later opened a subsidiary in Norway in 2019.
The 3D-printed clownfish-like robots are able to transmit video footage, as well as data that can help track salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperatures and other measurements considered important to researchers and clients in the blue economy industries.
They can easily access the collected information from a digital dashboard.
"It can stay in the water for about a year because it does inductive charging," said co-founder Simeon Pieterkosky, who explained the specifics of Aquaai's technology at the DriftX transportation exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
"It doesn't have a propeller, so it can swim almost anywhere, and it can also avoid coral," he said, comparing it with other underwater devices used to monitor and collect data, such as torpedo drones.
Mr Pieterkosky said that the ability of Aquaai to provide reactionary data in real time, sets it apart from other methods of data collection that might involve humans, boats and probes.
"It's all about saving time and getting the data right away as opposed to trying to monitor something after the event," he said, referring to both natural and man-made disasters that can require the immediate monitoring of oceans, lakes and rivers.
Since its founding in 2014, both Ms Thompson and Mr Pieterkosky say that Aquaai has relied mostly on venture capital firms such as Adam Draper's Boost VC and Arlan Hamilton's Backstage Capital in California, as well as a couple of angel and family investors.
Aquaai also received various research grants in Norway.
"The primary investors that come in know that it's not a simple task that we're solving [water health], it's a hard task that we're trying to solve and it's global," Mr Pieterkosky said.
"The majority of people who invest in us are really adventurous, it's not your typical VC, it's people who know this is something we need," Ms Thompson added.
With Aquaai now present in the UAE, the company is looking to partner with businesses to manufacture the robotic fish and scale up across the Middle East.
"We have the government support here thanks to Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Global Market, but we're also looking for the right business partner to help us scale in the region," Ms Thompson said, also noting that there was "no shortage of customer demand", but that increased investment in the company would help it reach a wider audience.
The UAE's recent hosting of the Cop28 climate conference, along with other environmental endeavours, also piqued Aquaai's interest.
"It has a dedication to autonomous and integrated systems like ours," Ms Thompson said.
"It also has a water security strategy for 2036," she added, referring to the UAE's plan to ensure water security.
Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
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Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
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THE BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.
Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.
Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
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2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
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Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
