suparjya swain 
National CEO Conclave 2025
FEATURE: In the silent depths of India’s aquaculture industry, a quiet revolution is underway—one led not by legacy players, but by a new generation of thinkers unafraid to disrupt convention. At the forefront is Abhishek Dwivedy, a dynamic force blending science, sustainability, and strategy to reshape the nation’s approach to seafood and marine-based livelihoods.
As the CEO and Managing Director of Aquapulse, Dwivedy isn’t just growing shrimp—he’s cultivating a blueprint for a cleaner, smarter, and globally competitive blue economy. “We’re not chasing scale at the cost of sustainability,” he says. “We’re creating a system where innovation, transparency, and ecological balance can thrive together.” From eliminating antibiotics in aquaculture to digitizing rural supply chains, Dwivedy’s work signals a future where India’s coastal communities and marine resources rise in tandem—resilient, empowered, and ready for the global stage.
Abhishek’s journey began in the rural classrooms of Odisha, where like many young science students, he faced the familiar dilemma—engineering, medicine, or agriculture? But where most chose the well-trodden path, he looked elsewhere. “Everyone was chasing the obvious,” he reflects. “I wanted to explore a field that had real impact but remained overlooked.” His decision to study Fisheries Science at OUAT under ICAR was bold, even radical, at a time when aquaculture was largely unknown to mainstream career aspirants.
Graduating with a strong academic foundation, Abhishek plunged into fieldwork. From working with seafood exporters to leading community-focused initiatives at Reliance Foundation and Solidaridad Network Asia, he gained deep insights into the aquaculture value chain. His tenure with the Dutch-based Solidaridad particularly opened his eyes to the potential of India’s shrimp industry, which exports nearly 85% of its produce. Here, he saw more than just markets—he saw opportunity for transformation.
Determined to make an impact, Abhishek launched AquaPulse in Bhubaneswar—a Tier-3 city rarely on the radar of venture capitalists. What began as a bold vision is now a movement. AquaPulse has built a digital ecosystem connecting over 10,000 farmers and 62 buyers, offering real-time disease alerts, transparent pricing, and direct market access through a custom mobile app. “Technology isn’t about apps—it’s about trust,” he says. “Farmers didn’t need jargon; they needed results.”
Abhishek’s earlier stint at IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) in 2012, where he led the dissemination of agri-knowledge via mobile phones to over a million farmers, sowed the seeds for this digital revolution. He brought this experience into AquaPulse by integrating data analytics, SOPs, and traceability—making the company a frontrunner in India’s AgriTech 2.0 wave.
Central to AquaPulse’s success is its focus on brackish water aquaculture, especially shrimp farming. While national policy still prioritizes freshwater systems, Abhishek believes the future lies in maximizing India’s 480-kilometer coastline through scientific, scalable, and sustainable practices. His ambition? To see Odisha overtake Andhra Pradesh as India’s seafood leader.
But the path wasn’t easy. Convincing skeptical farmers to adopt technology, and attracting investors to an aquaculture startup from Odisha, required grit and resilience. “I had to invest everything—my time, savings, even credibility. But once the farmers saw the benefits, the tide turned,” he recalls.
One of AquaPulse’s standout achievements is its commitment to antibiotic-free shrimp production. With global markets tightening food safety regulations, the company introduced high-slurry technology and rigorous farm protocols to meet international benchmarks, including those set by the US FDA and European Food Safety Authority. The result: a strong brand identity as a source of safe, sustainable seafood—highly valued in premium markets.
But AquaPulse is more than just a tech company—it’s a values-driven enterprise guided by an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework. Environmentally, it promotes solar energy and bans diesel generators to protect aquatic ecosystems. Socially, it empowers women, youth, and small-scale farmers. On the governance front, it runs with corporate transparency, aligning with global best practices.
AquaPulse also strongly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—including Zero Hunger, Climate Action, Clean Water, and Life Below Water. “We can’t talk about sustainable business without a sustainable ecosystem,” says Abhishek. “Every decision must balance people, planet, and profit.”
Looking ahead, the company is expanding its reach beyond traditional export markets to the Middle East, Maldives, Mauritius, and reviving trade ties with Japan and China. Domestically too, Abhishek sees huge untapped potential. India’s per capita seafood consumption remains low. “If we can ensure quality and safety, we can unlock ₹3 lakh crores in domestic seafood value,” he emphasizes.
At its core, Abhishek’s mission is deeply social. He views aquaculture as a tool for rural development, employment generation, and poverty alleviation. By building a transparent, tech-integrated, farmer-first model, he’s proving that economic success and social impact can go hand in hand.
To young Indians, Abhishek offers advice grounded in experience:
“Don’t just follow trends. Explore the uncharted—fields like fisheries, agriculture, and climate tech hold the key to India’s future. Build depth in your domain. There are no shortcuts—only consistent, purposeful work leads to true impact.”
In just over a decade, Abhishek Dwivedy has gone from a small village in Odisha to becoming a national voice in sustainable aquaculture. His story is not just about a startup—it’s about belief, courage, and vision. With AquaPulse, he hasn’t just built a company—he’s building a better future.
