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§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
Machine learning data management platform helping AI teams explore, curate, and manage training datasets to improve model performance.
Aquarium has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Aquarium.
Aquarium was founded in 2020 by Quinn Johnson (Founder) and Peter Gao (Founder).
Aquarium has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Based in San Francisco, Aquarium Learning provides a machine learning data management platform that helps artificial intelligence teams improve their model performance by exploring, curating, and managing complex training datasets. The enterprise software application allows machine learning engineers to identify edge cases, fix labeling errors, and retrain models for computer vision applications across industries such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, and agriculture. Operating as a commercial software provider, the acquired company previously raised a $2.6 million seed funding round and reached a scale of twelve employees before its acquisition. The startup received financial backing from prominent venture capital firms and startup accelerators, including Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator, while drawing on the founders' prior engineering experience at Cruise and Ouster. Aquarium Learning was officially founded in 2020 by former UC Berkeley researcher Peter Gao and Quinn.
Aquarium has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in February 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2021 | $3M Seed | Sequoia Capital | 20VC, 2.12 Angels, ALT Capital, Caravela Capital, Felicis Ventures, FJ Labs, Fuel Capital, Goat Capital, Infinite Niches, Matchstick Ventures, Maven Ventures, Mustard Seed, NFX, SignalFire, Streamlined Ventures, Carlos Julio Garcia, Emil Michael, Eric WU, Gordon Wintrob, James Beshara, Justin Mateen, Leah Busque, Mike Abbott, Pedro DE Garay, Daniel KAN, Kyle Vogt, Y Combinator | Announced |
Key people at Aquarium.
Aquarium was founded in 2020 by Quinn Johnson (Founder) and Peter Gao (Founder).
Aquarium has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Aquarium's investors include Sequoia Capital, 20VC, 2.12 Angels, Alt Capital, Caravela Capital, Felicis Ventures, FJ Labs, Fuel Capital, Goat Capital, Infinite Niches, Matchstick Ventures, Maven Ventures.
Aquarium refers most prominently to companies like Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) and Aquarium Technology Ltd (ATL), which specialize in aquarium construction, manufacturing, and technology rather than software or high-tech startups. AAT provides vertically integrated turnkey services for public aquariums, including design, build, equipment manufacturing, installation, livestock sourcing, and operations for attractions, theme parks, and resorts, serving global clients with a focus on high-performance, on-budget delivery for maximum ROI[1][2]. ATL, similarly, acts as a one-stop shop for aquarium display manufacturing, innovating in tank structures, acrylic/glass viewing panels, life support systems (LSS), and decor, primarily for specialist industries with a client repeat rate of 75%[4][7].
These are established niche players in the aquarium industry, with AAT generating $20.1 million in revenue and employing 132 people across international headquarters, while ATL emphasizes employee ownership for motivation and quality[2][4].
Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) was founded in 1996 by John and Michaela Langmead in Kunda Park, Queensland, Australia. John's background as an experienced offshore diver and senior manager at a commercial aquarium inspired him to launch specialist construction services, quickly gaining traction with major global projects and evolving into a full-service provider with over 100 personnel[2].
Aquarium Technology Ltd (ATL) also originated in 1996 via a management buyout led by Nick Stantiford (previously N J Stantiford Limited), who guided it for 20 years before retiring from daily operations in 2016 while remaining on the board. Headquartered in Weymouth, Dorset, UK, ATL was structured as employee-owned from inception to foster a skilled, low-turnover team focused on aquarium manufacturing[4][7].
Smaller entities like Aquarium Technology Inc. (ATI, formerly Lunstar) emerged in the US, pioneering patented sponge filters for hobbyist and commercial use, emphasizing dense, efficient materials despite later patent challenges from copycats[3][6].
These companies ride the wave of expanding experiential entertainment and sustainable aquatic exhibits, fueled by tourism recovery, theme park growth, and demand for immersive attractions post-pandemic. Timing aligns with rising interest in marine conservation displays and luxury resorts integrating large-scale aquariums, where market forces like urbanization and eco-tourism favor vertically integrated providers who ensure ROI through reliable execution[1][2]. They influence the ecosystem by setting standards in LSS tech, livestock handling, and durable installations, enabling operators to focus on visitor experience while reducing risks in complex builds—though they operate in a niche hardware/manufacturing space rather than digital tech[4].
With global tourism projected to grow and sustainability mandates pushing advanced LSS, AAT and ATL are poised to capture demand from new resorts and upgrades, potentially expanding into hybrid digital-aquatic experiences like AR-enhanced exhibits. Trends like climate-resilient designs and automation in filtration will shape their path, evolving their influence toward more tech-infused solutions while maintaining hardware leadership. This positions "Aquarium" entities as steady enablers in a visually captivating industry, far from the volatile tech startup world.
