A revolutionary maritime safety solution is emerging from Andhra Pradesh’s coastal region. Alert24, founded by Mr Dadi Teja on March 18, 2025, has developed India’s first GPS-enabled smart life jacket designed to prevent approximately 400 annual fishermen deaths along the country’s 7,600 km coastline.
Coming from a fishing family himself, Teja spent two years developing technology that addresses a critical gap: traditional life jackets keep people afloat, but locating them in vast ocean expanses remains nearly impossible. “In the deep sea, if you’re lost, you’re lost, it’s a complete black hole,” explains Teja.
Alert24’s patented solution combines GPS and satellite communication (SATCOM) to work beyond cellular range, where most fishing boats operate 30-60 km offshore. The device automatically detects when someone falls into water and transmits real-time coordinates to rescue teams and nearby vessels, dramatically reducing response time.
Key features include automatic distress triggering, 20+ days signal transmission, manual SOS buttons, night visibility lighting, protective hood, and reflective tape. The IoT-based system with AI capabilities not only alerts coast guards but also notifies nearby boats for faster rescue operations.
The startup has achieved remarkable recognition in its first year. Alert24 won Best Maritime Safety Product from the Philippine Innovation Society, received Rs. 1 crore soft investment commitment on television show IDEABAAZ, and secured a Rs 3 lakh grant from IIM Visakhapatnam, where it’s currently incubated. The company was also selected for India Mobile Congress and NTCPWC at IIT Madras.
Alert24 has begun commercial operations with pilots underway at Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department and initial orders from Amaravati Boating Club. Beyond fisheries, the company is expanding into aviation safety, naval operations, disaster response, and water sports—positioning itself to transform maritime safety across multiple sectors globally.
Below is a brief snapshot of the Startup:
Founder & CEO : Dadi Teja
Incubated / Started in the Year: IIM Visakhapatnam, March 2025(official incorporation)
Industry / Space: Maritime Safety, Deep-Tech, IoT & Satellite Communication
Number of team members: 8 (Core engineering & operations team)
Funding Received: Innovation Grant – Rs 3,00,000 from IIM Visakhapatnam
Looking For: Government deployments, defence partnerships, global maritime collaborations, and institutional funding
Claim to Fame: India’s 1st patented GPS + SATCOM smart life jacket & Awarded “Best Maritime Safety Product” by the Philippine Innovation Society
Market of Operation: Pan-India
Company Culture:
Aggressive Methodical Easy Going
People that inspire me (PTIM): Fishermen communities who risk their lives every day the reason Alert24 exists.
