"We see that robotics has enormous potential to streamline and improve processes in many industries. It's rare to see early-stage companies with such a high demand for their solution," says Svein-Olav Torø, CEO of Kongsberg Innovation.
Technology start-up EasyX is now raising 12 million from new investors and is ready to scale in the aquaculture industry.
The company is joined by several well-known early-stage investors such as Startuplab, Kongsberg Innovasjon and DSD Investering, in addition to Innovation Norway.
Changed course after a tip
EasyX has developed a robot that can drive on vertical surfaces regardless of material.
In the first phase, the robot will be used to wash and clean fish tanks at hatcheries and land-based fish farms.
The idea for the robot arose when two of the founders, Bård J. Hansen and Sindre R. Hansen, were painting their houses that summer. They wanted to create a robot that could simplify the work.
The initial idea was to offer the robot to private individuals who wanted to paint houses and walls, but interest in the market was limited and conditions varied greatly," says Sindre Hansen.
Following a tip from a local resident that the technology could be used in the aquaculture industry, the company changed course.
EasyX has developed a robot that can operate on soapy walls and be used to wash empty fish tanks in the aquaculture industry.
- Great strain for employees
Washing fish tanks is currently done manually in scaffolding with a high-pressure washer. This puts a lot of strain on employees at the facilities. The aquaculture companies are clear that they want better solutions," says community member and co-founder Jan Fredrik Gjerstad.
With new industrial investors, the company is ready to commercialize and scale the technology into the market.
One of the investors joining the investment round is Kongsberg Innovation's pre-seed fund.
Kongsberg Innovation is an industry-based incubator and investor operating throughout Norway.
In 2022, the community raised NOK 69 million for investments in early-stage companies.
Last year, the company announced its ambition to raise capital for a new fund that would invest in Norwegian deep tech solutions.
It's clear that they've hit a nerve in the aquaculture industry with their robot," says Torø.
The company has nothing to sell now, but the plan is to make the first commercial sale during 2023.
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