Our Story
DistanSea was founded to bring breakthrough water treatment technologies from the laboratory to the global live seafood industry.
Our journey began long before the company was established.
Co-founder Dr. Raz Ben-Asher has dedicated his career to aquaculture and water treatment. From working in fish ponds in his youth to developing advanced production technologies for aquaculture, his experience spans recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), outdoor ponds, fingerling production, and commercial fish farming. He also served as Chairman of the Israeli Fish Farmers Association, giving him firsthand insight into both the scientific and operational challenges facing the industry.
Building on this experience, researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology began developing advanced chemistry-based water treatment technologies for aquaculture. During this work, the team recognized that live seafood transportation presented a unique challenge. Unlike land-based aquaculture, transport systems cannot rely on operators, electricity, or complex control systems. Any practical solution had to work passively, reliably, and consistently under real-world conditions.
After years of research, materials development, and validation, the team created DistanSea's proprietary ammonia-selective bead technology, together with a regeneration process that enables the media to be reused repeatedly. These innovations became the foundation of the ART™ technology platform.
Mission & Vision
Mission To expand the operational limits of live aquatic systems through breakthrough water treatment technologies.
Vision To redefine how the world transports, holds, and manages live aquatic organisms through science-driven innovation.
Recognizing the commercial potential of the technology, Asaf Lahav. a specialist of bringing products to market. joined forces with Dr. Ben-Asher to establish DistanSea and transform the research into products for the global market.
The company's first field validations were carried out in Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland, where the technology was tested under real commercial conditions with leading industry partners. These successful milestones enabled DistanSea to secure its first pre-seed investment and continue advancing the technology toward commercialization.
Today, with support from Fresh Start FoodTech Incubator and the Israel Innovation Authority, DistanSea is completing its first commercial product family, conducting pilot projects with industry partners, and preparing for market entry. The company's mission remains the same as it was from the beginning: to commercialize advanced water treatment technologies that improve the health, efficiency, and sustainability of live aquatic systems.
Leadership Team
Asaf Lahav
Co-Founder
& Chief Executive Officer
Asaf Lahav is an entrepreneur and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience leading the development and commercialization of innovative technologies. Throughout his career, he has transformed breakthrough ideas into successful products and businesses across software, enterprise systems, and deep technology.
As CEO of DistanSea, Asaf leads the company's strategy, fundraising, business development, and commercialization, bridging world-class scientific research with the needs of the global live seafood industry.
Dr. Raz Ben-Asher
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Raz Ben-Asher is an aquaculture expert with decades of experience in fish production, water treatment, and aquatic system design. His career began working in fish ponds and has since spanned recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), outdoor ponds, fingerling production, and the development of advanced aquaculture technologies.
Former Chairman of the Israeli Fish Farmers Association, Dr. Ben-Asher combines deep scientific expertise with practical industry experience. He leads DistanSea's technology development and the continued advancement of the ART™ platform.
Prof. Ori Lahav
Chief Scientist
Prof. Ori Lahav is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized expert in water treatment, desalination, and environmental technologies. His research has led to numerous scientific publications, patents, and industrial collaborations in advanced water chemistry.As DistanSea's Chief Scientist, Prof. Lahav provides the scientific leadership behind the company's technology platform, guiding its continued development from academic research to commercial innovation.
Dr. Paz Nativ
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Paz Nativ is a researcher specializing in advanced water treatment technologies and aquatic systems. His work focuses on translating innovative scientific concepts into practical engineering solutions for commercial applications.
At DistanSea, Dr. Nativ supports the development and validation of the ART™ technology platform, contributing to materials development, system optimization, and scientific evaluation.
Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration
DistanSea was founded on research conducted at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and continues to work closely with the research group led by Prof. Ori Lahav to advance the next generation of water treatment technologies for aquaculture and live aquatic systems.
With approximately 3 million NIS in funding from the Israel Innovation Authority, DistanSea combines industrial execution with world-class scientific expertise. Together, we bring capabilities in advanced water chemistry, ion-exchange materials, water treatment systems, pilot validation, and the commercialization of research into real-world solutions.
We actively seek collaborations with universities, research institutes, technology companies, and industry partners to participate in national and international R&D programs, including Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator, the BIRD Foundation, the BARD Foundation, and other collaborative research initiatives
What We Bring to the Table
Scientific
Excellence
Close collaboration with the Technion's Environmental Engineering research group, led by Prof. Ori Lahav, bringing internationally recognized expertise in advanced water treatment, environmental chemistry, and aquatic systems.
Proprietary
Technology
A growing portfolio of proprietary technologies, including selective ion-exchange materials, passive water treatment systems, and reusable media regeneration technologies developed specifically for saline aquatic environments.
Industrial
Validation
Experience designing and executing pilot projects with commercial partners across Europe and Israel, transforming laboratory innovations into practical industry solutions.
Commercialization
Expertise
A multidisciplinary team with experience in technology development, product commercialization, fundraising, regulatory engagement, and international business development.
Project
Leadership
The ability to lead or contribute to multidisciplinary research consortia by combining academic research, industrial execution, and commercial deployment within a single project framework.
Investors
Supported by Visionary Investors
DistanSea is backed by a diverse group of strategic investors, industry leaders, government innovation programs, and private investors who share our vision of transforming water treatment for the live seafood industry. Their support enables us to advance our technology, validate it with commercial partners, and accelerate our path to market.
Looking
Ahead
DistanSea is currently advancing its first commercial product line and expanding its network of design partners across Europe and beyond.
We are always interested in connecting with investors who share our vision and are passionate about supporting breakthrough technologies in water treatment, aquaculture, and sustainable food systems.