Fed Up With Foreign MNCs Exploiting Indian Fish Farmers, Mumbai Man Builds A Startup To Help Make Aquaculture More Profitable

In the sun-baked fields of Akola, a small farming town in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, infamous for farmer suicides, a young Abhijeet Naohate watched his community toil. Farmers, including his neighbours, battled relentless hardships to earn a living.

“Since childhood, I have seen the pain of farmers firsthand. It planted a seed in me to serve them,” shares Abhijeet Naohate, now the founder & CEO of Corel Lifecare, a Mumbai-based startup.

This seed, nurtured by his doctor father’s ethos of community service, would eventually sprout into Corel Lifecare, an aquaculture solutions startup transforming the Indian aqua-farming industry.

Founded in March 2023, Corel Lifecare is rewriting the rules of fishery management. It serves over 1500 fishery farmers weekly with affordable, science-driven fish health solutions.

Disillusionment with the Status Quo:

Abhijeet’s journey wasn’t a straight path. Armed with a master’s in Fisheries Economics and Business Management from the prestigious Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, he spent a decade climbing the corporate ladder in the aquaculture solutions industry. 

He formulated and marketed fish & shrimp health solutions for multinational companies, becoming a seasoned professional. However, by late 2022, a disillusionment had set in.

A marine disease, white faeces syndrome (WFS), along with EHP, was decimating aquatic farms, and Indian fish and shrimp farmers were struggling.

Foreign companies, Abhijeet noticed, were selling overpriced feed and supplements, exploiting farmers’ desperation.

“The margins these companies charged were simply unjust. I knew high-quality aquaculture inputs and supplements could be made affordably,” reflects Abhijeet, during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

In February 2023, he quit his high-paying job at a foreign MNC. A month later, in March 2023, Corel Lifecare was born, a bold venture to deliver affordable yet high-quality aquaculture products tailored for Indian fishery farmers

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Challenges in the Initial Journey:

Starting Corel Lifecare wasn’t easy. Abhijeet had industry expertise but no experience running a business. Finding a manufacturer who shared his vision was a big hurdle.

After rejecting several vendors in Mumbai, he met Hemant Hajare, a seasoned producer of animal feed supplements. Their values aligned, but when Hemant offered to invest, Abhijeet declined. He wanted a strategic partner, not just funds.

Enter Nikhilesh Hajare, Hemant’s son and Corel’s eventual co-founder and COO.

“Nikhilesh and I clicked instantly. We shared the same passion for aqua-innovation and farm productivity,” Abhijeet recalls.

Together, they combined Abhijeet’s product formulation expertise with Nikhilesh’s manufacturing know-how.

For three months, they toiled in R&D, crafting Corel’s first range of products: Mintamix, a mineral mixture; Immu-45, an immunity-boosting supplement; and Bindo Best, a feed-binding gel.

But launching the products was only half the battle. Dealers, wary of a new player in a market dominated by foreign giants, questioned Corel’s solutions.

“In the initial days, dealers and distributors doubted our quality and longevity,” Abhijeet admits.

To win them over, he distributed free samples, letting results speak for themselves, and gathered first-hand feedback from the farmers to make the product offerings robust and demand-worthy.

Competition was fierce, with some rivals even spreading rumours to tarnish Corel’s name. Yet Abhijeet stayed focused and was successful in building a lean team and a network of 14 dealers (channel partners) in the first year.

Corel Lifecare in Detail:

Corel’s products are a game-changer in the market. From three initial offerings, the company now boasts over 10 aquaculture healthcare solutions, including probiotics, minerals, feed supplements, oxygen enhancers, and disinfectants. 

With prices ranging from ₹950 for Pond Trust, a revolutionary water quality enhancing probozyme (probiotic + enzymes), to ₹5150 for a 25 kg pack of Bindo Best, Corel’s products are both affordable and effective.

“Our products are high in concentration and require low dosages. This reduces fish & shrimp farmers’ costs and boosts their productivity & profitability,” Abhijeet explains.

Unlike mainstream competitors, whose diluted and below-par products are often repurposed from poultry or dairy, Corel’s aqua health products are tailored for aquaculture.

They tackle real issues like polluted water and disease, enabling faster growth and antibiotic-free farms. Farmers, initially sceptical, became vocal advocates.

“Farmers saw tangible results, and word spread. The feedback was overwhelming from the get-go. Today, the farmers are our biggest ambassadors,” Abhijeet says to Startup Pedia.

By FY 2024-25, Corel had served over 3000 unique farmers and generated ₹4 crore in annual revenue. Its network of 120 channel partners spans seven states, including major aquaculture hubs like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal.

The company’s field team works directly with farmers, offering honest guidance to boost farmer productivity. Village-level workshops and networking, educational, and marketing activities on LinkedIn and Facebook help amplify Corel’s reach, while positive word-of-mouth from Indian fish farmers fuels its growth.

Notably, Corel Lifecare’s recent partnership with RYNAN Aquaculture, a Vietnamese tech firm, is set to introduce AI-driven precision farming to India.

“Our collaboration with RYNAN will empower Indian fish and shrimp farmers with cutting-edge tools like AI-driven data analysis, helping them detect diseases early, optimise feeding, and reduce mortality. This is a first for the Indian aqua-farming industry,” says Nikhilesh Hajare, the co-founder & COO of Corel Lifecare.

Corel’s continued focus on innovation, affordability, and customer-centricity is making it a trusted name in the Indian aquaculture industry.

Even with this leap into technology, Corel hasn’t lost sight of its grassroots mission.

“Our affordable fish health solutions aren’t just about science—they’re about dignity. Every healthy fish and shrimp in a pond means more income and less worry for the farmer,” Abhijeet says with a smile.

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The Long Road Ahead:

Corel’s future plans are split into short-term problem-solving and long-term ecosystem building.

In the short term, it aims to tackle global aquaculture challenges like WFS, EHP disease, and Argulus infestations.

“Our R&D is close to some groundbreaking solutions that could change the game in India and abroad. We’re also ramping up our on-ground presence. More team members, more training, and more farmer outreach,” Abhijeet announces.

In the current financial year (2025-26), the startup plans to serve 5000 farmers weekly and expand its channel partners to 300, targeting ₹12 crore in revenue.

In the long term, Corel envisions entering agricultural solutions, pet health, and dairy care, becoming a global leader in sustainable farming. Still bootstrapped, it is open to future funding for R&D, product development, and market expansion.

As the Indian aquaculture market is projected to reach USD 30.13 billion by 2030, it offers immense potential and tailwinds to Corel.

“We started Corel Lifecare to democratise Indian aquaculture and make it modern and world-class. Our ultimate goal is to be the brand farmers can truly trust,” Abhijeet declares.

With its blend of science, affordability, and honesty, this Mumbai startup is poised to revolutionise fishery solutions.

Abhijeet’s journey from a small-town dreamer to a trailblazer in the Indian startup ecosystem is inspiring.

Today, Corel Lifecare isn’t just a business; it’s a movement to empower Indian fish farmers. As it scales, its impact ripples beyond aquaculture, promising a future where farming is more profitable, sustainable, and equitable.