37 innovative seafood companies to pitch at Fish 2.0 finals

Fish 2.0 today revealed the 37 companies—winnowed from an initial pool of 170 entrants—that will pitch to investors at the seafood business competition’s final event Nov. 10–11 at Stanford University. The group stands out for its business strength, geographic range, and diverse approaches to addressing seafood market opportunities and advancing sustainability.

Nearly two-thirds (23) of the companies are post-revenue ventures that can demonstrate a market for their products—and those products are on the leading edge of innovation in aquaculture, aquaponics, technology, wild capture products, traceability, and the supply chain. The group is also notably international: only 17 businesses are based in the United States, including two with operations in Chile; six are in Canada; four are based in Latin America; five operate in the South Pacific; two are based in Europe; and three are in Southeast Asia. (See below for a complete list.)

“The diversity and breadth of the finalists shows that innovation in seafood is growing all over the world. We are especially excited to see sustainability and invention taking root in the markets where the fish are coming from, not just where they are consumed—and to see change happening throughout the supply chain,” says Monica Jain, Fish 2.0 founder and executive director.

“Also, the fact that so many post-revenue companies are competing proves that there is a market for these new approaches,” she adds. “From what we see, these companies will not be stepping on each other’s toes—they’re each offering something different, and there is room in the market for most, if not all, of them to grow.”

At the upcoming Fish 2.0 event in November, 18 Fish 2.0 finalists will give 5-minute pitches and 19 runners-up will give 90-second pitches to a room of 300 seafood experts and investors interested in increasing sustainable seafood options globally. The ventures selected to participate demonstrated the highest potential for growth and positive social and environmental impacts.

Investors interested in attending the finals should email the Fish 2.0 team.

Finalists

• Acadia Harvest, Maine (Land-Based Aquaculture)
• Alaska Community Seafood Hub, Alaska (Wild Capture, Rights-Based Management)
• Alfa Fishing, Vanuatu (Wild Capture, Supply Chain Innovation)
• Blue Farms Hawaii, Hawaii (Aquaponics)
• Bureo, California and Chile (Waste Reduction Innovation)
• ENTOFOOD, Malaysia (Fish Feed)
• Kampachi Farms, Mexico (Deep-Water Aquaculture)
• Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, California (Wild Capture, Rights-Based Management)
• Pacific Ocean Culture, Fiji (Aquaculture)
• PAFCO Fiji, Fiji (Supply Chain)
• Salty Girl Seafood, California (Wild Capture, Supply Chain Innovation)
• Sea Quest Group, Fiji (Wild Capture, Supply Chain Innovation)
• SmartFish, Mexico (Wild Capture, Supply Chain Innovation)
• Swiss Alpine Fish, Switzerland (Land-Based Aquaculture)
• Target Marine Hatcheries, Canada (Aquaculture Technology)
• Taste of BC Grown-on-Land Steelhead Salmon, Canada (Land-Based Aquaculture)
• The RiverBox, Canada (Aquaculture Technology)
• TimberFish Technologies, New York (Aquaculture Technology)

About Fish 2.0

The Fish 2.0 business competition builds the knowledge and connections needed to increase investment in the sustainable seafood sector. Competitors improve their business models and learn how to approach investors, and investors gain early access to new deals and learn how sustainable seafood can help build their portfolios. This year, businesses from around the world will compete for over $180,000 in cash prizes, and 36 finalists will present their ideas to investors. Find more information at www.fish20.org.