“This financial backing by leading global venture funds gives us significant leverage to make sustainably cultivated, cruelty-free, and ocean-friendly bluefin tuna a reality.” – Daphna Heffetz, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Wanda Fish.

Wanda Fish Technologies, a foodtech start-up, has successfully secured USD 7 million in seed funding to expedite the pilot production of cultivated bluefin tuna. This funding round was led by Aqua-Spark, a Netherlands-based global aquaculture investment fund, with participation from pre-seed investors like The Kitchen Hub, Peregrine Ventures, PICO Venture Partners, MOREVC, and CPT Capital, totaling the company’s funding to USD 10 million since its inception in 2021.

Wanda Fish, co-founded by The Kitchen Hub and Daphna Heffetz, specializes in cultivating premium-quality fish outside of the ocean. The investment will facilitate the development and scaling up of cultivated whole-cut filets of bluefin tuna that replicate the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of wild-caught bluefin tuna while avoiding common ocean pollutants like mercury. Moreover, their production adheres to non-GMO standards. (Cision PR Newswire)

This initiative aims to meet the demand for bluefin tuna, a prized species known for its nutritional content, texture, and flavor. Bluefin tuna has faced overfishing, leading to government-imposed fishing quotas, and its traditional farming has proven unsustainable due to resource requirements and breeding challenges. Additionally, it often contains pollutants like plastic debris and high levels of mercury.

Wanda Fish has made substantial progress, including developing a 3D filet structure using bluefin tuna cells, allowing precise control of fat levels in their end products. This innovation will enable the creation of various filet cuts, including the coveted Toro premium cut.

Aqua-Spark CEO Lissy Smit emphasized the importance of sustainable alternatives for species like bluefin tuna.

Wanda Fish’s approach, driven by cutting-edge technologies and a skilled team, promises a more sustainable future for ocean seafood, offering authentic, cultivated premium fish filets with a minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.

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