ISRAELI – Israeli start-up, Wanda Fish Technologies, has announced the successful acquisition of US$7 million in seed funding to advance the development and scaling of a revolutionary cultivated whole-cut filet of bluefin tuna.
The innovative achievement is celebrated as the “fish of the future” due to its potential to mitigate the harmful effects of overfishing on marine ecosystems.
According to the start-up, the ambitious mission of the acquisition is to create an abundant, premium source of highly nutritious fish to alleviate the strain on the delicate ocean ecosystem.
“Wanda Fish’s cultivated bluefin tuna filets offer an authentic replication of the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of their wild-caught counterparts, featuring the same muscle and fat cells, native proteins, and essential fatty acids, including omega-3.”
The company noted that it is achieving this by employing a proprietary technique to control fat levels precisely, allowing for the creation of a diverse range of filet cuts, including the coveted Toro premium cut.
“One of the most significant advantages of Wanda Fish’s cultivated bluefin tuna is its lack of common ocean pollutants, such as mercury, and adherence to non-GMO production standards,” the company stated.
“This makes it a sustainable, ocean-friendly, and cruelty-free alternative to wild-caught tuna while preserving the desired texture, flavor, and nutritional richness.”
The round was led by Netherlands-based global aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark, with additional funding from returning pre-seed investors The Kitchen Hub by the Strauss Group, Peregrine Ventures, LLC, Pico Venture Partners, Morevc, and CPT Capital, LLP.
“We are on a shared mission to improve the global food value chain, creating a tasty, more sustainable future for all.,” Daphna Heffetz, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Wanda Fish said.
“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.”
Bluefin tuna’s nutritional content, texture, and flavor have made it an expensive and highly sought-after species, especially popular in high-end sushi restaurants due to its perfect balance of fat and protein.
Meanwhile, overfishing and endangerment have led governments to impose strict fishing quotas, making access to bluefin tuna increasingly challenging.
Traditional tuna farming has proven unsustainable due to resource consumption, pen size requirements, and difficulties in breeding in captivity.
Additionally, the rampant pollution of the oceans has heightened the need for sustainable alternatives to reduce the risks associated with consuming contaminated fish.
“In such a burgeoning and innovative sector, we are pleased to welcome Wanda Fish into our portfolio of companies based on the remarkable speed with which they’ve met significant milestones,” Lissy Smit, CEO of Aqua-Spark said.
“We firmly believe in a future where sustainably farmed and cultivated seafood will work in concert with one another to alleviate the burden of overfishing, especially species like bluefin tuna, which are deemed unsustainable to farm.”
