Forte Biotech: Innovating Aquaculture with Rapid Shrimp Disease Detection
Forte Biotech is a biotechnology startup founded in 2021, headquartered in Singapore with active operations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company develops cutting-edge diagnostic solutions for the aquaculture industry, with a special focus on early detection of diseases in prawns.
At the heart of their technology is the RAPID system – short for Robust Accurate Prawn Infection Detector. This patented platform utilizes LAMP PCR (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Polymerase Chain Reaction) to enable on-site detection of shrimp pathogens in less than 50 minutes. This empowers prawn farmers to take timely preventive actions and significantly reduce economic losses caused by:
- White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)
- Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei (EHP)
- Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND)
💡 With Forte Biotech’s diagnostic kit, farmers can avoid unnecessary antibiotic use and shift toward sustainable aquaculture practices.
🏆 Recognition & Impact
Forte Biotech’s work has attracted local and international acclaim. The startup secured:
- 🥉 Third Prize at TECHFEST Vietnam 2022
- 🏆 A $100,000 grant from the Net Zero Challenge in December 2023
- 💼 Strategic investments from top-tier venture capital firms such as Sopoong Ventures and Touchstone Partners
🚀 Why Forte Biotech Matters
- Solves a billion-dollar problem: Shrimp disease costs farmers billions annually across Asia
- First-mover advantage: One of the few startups in ASEAN using LAMP PCR in aquaculture
- Market-ready: Forte Biotech’s kits are already being used in farms across Vietnam
