VentureTech supports Pacton Technologies with strategic investment

By Newswav.com

PETALING JAYA: VentureTech Sdn Bhd, a government-backed impact investment company, has invested in Pacton Technologies Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian technology company specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, to enhance its AI- and IoT-powered aquaculture management platform, FishSpeak.

The investment will support Pacton’s next phase of growth, including the advancement of its AI capabilities, scaling of commercial deployments, and expansion into key Asean markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.

Pacton’s FishSpeak platform combines proprietary computer-vision models, AI advisory and selective IoT integration to deliver real-time aquaculture intelligence for fish and shrimp farms. The platform supports water quality assessment, feeding optimisation, early disease-risk detection, and farm performance insights through a WhatsApp-native interface, enabling farmers to receive alerts, record activities, and act on AI-generated recommendations with lower operational complexity than conventional sensor-heavy systems.

FishSpeak has demonstrated early traction through its participation under the MDEC Digital AgTech Programme, with deployments across more than 50 aquaculture sites nationwide. The platform is also advancing regional expansion initiatives, including commercial engagement opportunities in Indonesia, where aquaculture operators are seeking scalable digital solutions to improve productivity, disease management, and farm-level operational efficiency.

Commenting on the investment, VentureTech CEO Azizan Jaafar said, “This investment reflects VentureTech’s continued focus on advancing innovative Bumiputera-led companies in high-growth, high-value (HGHV) sectors that contribute towards strengthening Malaysia’s economic resilience and national capabilities.

Pacton’s AI-driven solution addresses critical challenges in aquaculture, particularly around productivity, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability within the industry.”

He added, “Beyond its commercial potential, FishSpeak also supports broader national priorities in food security and agri-tech innovation through the application of advanced technologies. As the aquaculture industry continues to evolve, technology-driven solutions like FishSpeak will play an important role in enhancing industry competitiveness, improving farmer outcomes, and accelerating digital adoption across the ecosystem.”

Aquaculture continues to face longstanding challenges such as delayed disease detection, feed wastage, and limited digital adoption, all of which affect productivity and operational sustainability. Through its AI-driven approach, FishSpeak has demonstrated measurable operational improvements across pilot deployments, including stronger feed efficiency, improved farm visibility, and earlier risk detection capabilities.

Pacton founder and managing director Faisal Shadli Arshad said, “We are honoured to receive VentureTech’s support as we scale FishSpeak across Malaysia and the region.

“Aquaculture farmers face real operational challenges, from rising feed costs and disease outbreaks to limited access to reliable farm data. FishSpeak was built to make advanced AI accessible at the farm level, using computer vision and familiar tools such as WhatsApp to help operators make faster, better, and more data-driven decisions. This investment will accelerate our mission to improve productivity, sustainability and profitability for aquaculture operators across Asean.”

VentureTech said in a statement that this investment reinforces its role in nurturing technology-driven companies that contribute to socio-economic development, including improving farmer income, enabling digital adoption among smallholders, and supporting sustainable food production systems.

It is also aligned with the aspirations of the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035, particularly in advancing Bumiputera participation in HGHV industries through technology, innovation, and sustainable economic development.