Aqua-Spark

Aqua-Spark is an investment fund based in Utrecht, Netherlands, established in 2013. It focuses on sustainable aquaculture businesses worldwide, targeting small to medium-sized enterprises involved in the production of safe and accessible aquatic life, including fish, shellfish, and plants. The fund prioritizes investments that generate financial returns while promoting positive environmental and social outcomes, adhering to a triple impact philosophy. Aqua-Spark emphasizes a long-term investment approach, seeking entrepreneurs who are committed to building and scaling their businesses to address significant environmental and food security challenges. Sustainability is a core requirement for each investee, reflecting Aqua-Spark's dedication to fostering responsible practices within the aquaculture sector.

Josien Bakker

Investor

Thomas Lambaa Giehm

Investor

Amy Novogratz

Co-Founder and Board Member

Frank van Roest

Investor

Jan Slootweg

Investor

Mike Velings

Co-Founder and Board Member

Maria Velkova

Investor

Kim Wagenaar

Investor

Chen Zhu

Investor

32 past transactions

Kuehnle Agrosystems

Venture Round in 2022
Kuehnle Agrosystems, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that specializes in the development and production of specialty chemicals and raw materials derived from microalgae and exotic plant cell cultures. Founded in 2007, the company focuses on creating biologically active compounds for various applications. Its product offerings include ingredients for personal care items such as cosmetics and dietary supplements, as well as solutions for agriculture and aquaculture, including feed additives and crop protectants. By leveraging its expertise in cell line creation and process optimization, Kuehnle Agrosystems serves multinational corporations, providing innovative and efficient solutions tailored to meet industry needs.

Protix

Private Equity Round in 2022
Protix B.V. is a Netherlands-based company that specializes in the production of functional insect proteins and lipids for animal feed, particularly for cattle, fish, and pets. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Dongen, with an additional production facility in Bergen op Zoom, Protix converts organic residual streams, such as food scraps from meat, fish, and dairy, into high-quality protein meals and insect fats. These products serve as sustainable alternatives to traditional fishmeal and are designed to enhance feed solutions while promoting a more balanced food system. Through its innovative approach, Protix aims to provide clients with eco-friendly and organic nutrients that contribute to the transition toward sustainable agriculture.

eFishery

Series C in 2022
eFishery is automatic fish feeder for all types of fish. This tool can not only provide feed scheduled, with a dose efficient, and automatic, but also record every feed in real-time. You can access the data feed, anytime, anywhere with precision. There is no longer a problem of over-feeding, fish feeding or feed irregularly diverted. eFishery provide the best solutions, reliable, and affordable.

Ecto

Series A in 2021
Ecto develops technology at the intersection of data and biology to enable a more efficient and sustainable aquaculture industry. We collaborate with farmers to streamline production and health management by leveraging advanced molecular tools and digital technologies. To date, our solutions have enabled farmers to create 51,510,714 additional healthy servings of protein. Ecto has offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Stavanger (Norway) and serves customers all over the world. The company was founded at Harvard Innovation Labs in 2013 by Dmitry Kozachenok, MBA and James Webb, Ph.D. The company has received competitive research grants from the US National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, and Innovation Norway.

Calysta

Series D in 2021
Calysta, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and manufacturing protein ingredients derived from sustainable sources. Based in Menlo Park, California, with additional locations in Houston, London, Stavanger, and Singapore, Calysta provides nutritional feeds and health products for fish and livestock, as well as chemicals used in various end products such as fibers, plastics, and building materials. The company also produces biofuels through innovative processes utilizing methane as a feedstock. Founded in 2011, Calysta was previously known as Calysta Energy before rebranding in 2014. Its technologies, including biological gas-to-liquids and gas-to-chemicals processes, aim to address global food security and meet the rising demand for sustainable protein in the aquaculture industry. The company has formed a strategic partnership with Bluestar Adisseo Company to enhance its market offerings.

Proteon Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2021
PROTEON uses precision biology for microbiome protection to improve animal and human health, increasing environmental sustainability and eliminating the unnecessary use of antibiotics. We have developed a platform to develop and deliver bacteriophages for animal health solutions. Our pipeline includes solutions to prophylactically improve performance and food safety in poultry, as well as important prevent economically important bacterial diseases in aquaculture and dairy.

xpertSea

Series B in 2021
XpertSea Solutions Inc. is a Canadian technology company focused on enhancing the aquaculture industry by providing innovative tools for counting and analyzing aquatic organisms. Established in 2009 and based in Quebec, XpertSea offers XperCount, a device that enables users to count, size, and image small aquatic organisms. The company also features a comprehensive platform that generates, stores, and analyzes data related to aquatic populations. By integrating smart aquaculture equipment with a farm management system, XpertSea delivers insights powered by artificial intelligence, helping farmers optimize feed efficiency, reduce environmental waste, and implement disease prevention measures. With a presence in over 50 countries, XpertSea connects shrimp buyers and farmers through a data-driven marketplace that facilitates secure transactions and promotes sustainable practices in seafood farming.
Proteon Therapeutics, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company developing pharmaceuticals to address the medical needs of patients with renal and vascular diseases. The company leverages a unique understanding of tissue remodeling to develop a pipeline of proprietary therapeutics. Proteon Therapeutics’ first drug candidate (PRT-201) is in development for the improvement of blood flow following vascular surgery procedures. The company’s initial clinical focus is vascular access for hemodialysis and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Sea6 Energy

Series B in 2021
Sea6 Energy Pvt. Ltd. is an innovative company based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in the cultivation and conversion of seaplants into biofuels and other bio-renewable products. Founded in 2010, the company focuses on harnessing the potential of the oceans to create sustainable solutions in energy and agriculture. Sea6 Energy develops technologies for managing biomass from floating farms and produces a range of products, including biofuels, plant growth stimulants, animal feed ingredients, and natural compounds for cosmetics. With a team of professionals from diverse fields such as marine biology and bioprocess engineering, the company aims to establish a new economy centered around marine biomass, effectively contributing to sustainability by minimizing waste and replacing traditional chemicals and plastics.

Ecto

Venture Round in 2021
Ecto develops technology at the intersection of data and biology to enable a more efficient and sustainable aquaculture industry. We collaborate with farmers to streamline production and health management by leveraging advanced molecular tools and digital technologies. To date, our solutions have enabled farmers to create 51,510,714 additional healthy servings of protein. Ecto has offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Stavanger (Norway) and serves customers all over the world. The company was founded at Harvard Innovation Labs in 2013 by Dmitry Kozachenok, MBA and James Webb, Ph.D. The company has received competitive research grants from the US National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, and Innovation Norway.

Sea6 Energy

Series B in 2021
Sea6 Energy Pvt. Ltd. is an innovative company based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in the cultivation and conversion of seaplants into biofuels and other bio-renewable products. Founded in 2010, the company focuses on harnessing the potential of the oceans to create sustainable solutions in energy and agriculture. Sea6 Energy develops technologies for managing biomass from floating farms and produces a range of products, including biofuels, plant growth stimulants, animal feed ingredients, and natural compounds for cosmetics. With a team of professionals from diverse fields such as marine biology and bioprocess engineering, the company aims to establish a new economy centered around marine biomass, effectively contributing to sustainability by minimizing waste and replacing traditional chemicals and plastics.

Protix

Venture Round in 2021
Protix B.V. is a Netherlands-based company that specializes in the production of functional insect proteins and lipids for animal feed, particularly for cattle, fish, and pets. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Dongen, with an additional production facility in Bergen op Zoom, Protix converts organic residual streams, such as food scraps from meat, fish, and dairy, into high-quality protein meals and insect fats. These products serve as sustainable alternatives to traditional fishmeal and are designed to enhance feed solutions while promoting a more balanced food system. Through its innovative approach, Protix aims to provide clients with eco-friendly and organic nutrients that contribute to the transition toward sustainable agriculture.

eFishery

Series B in 2020
eFishery is automatic fish feeder for all types of fish. This tool can not only provide feed scheduled, with a dose efficient, and automatic, but also record every feed in real-time. You can access the data feed, anytime, anywhere with precision. There is no longer a problem of over-feeding, fish feeding or feed irregularly diverted. eFishery provide the best solutions, reliable, and affordable.

Swedish Algae Factory

Venture Round in 2020
Swedish Algae Factory AB, founded in 2014 and located in Gothenburg, Sweden, specializes in algae cultivation and wastewater treatment systems. The company extracts nanoporous silica from silicon algae, which enhances solar panel efficiency by trapping visible light and blocking UV light. Laboratory tests have shown promising results, indicating significant improvements in solar energy capture. Additionally, the nanoporous material developed by Swedish Algae Factory has versatile applications beyond solar technology; it can absorb and release particles, making it useful in skincare products for moisturizing, cleaning, and UV protection.

Ace Aquatec

Venture Round in 2019
Ace Aquatec Limited is a company focused on providing innovative technological solutions to the aquaculture and marine industries. Established in 1999 and headquartered in Dundee, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Scotland and Canada, Ace Aquatec specializes in several key areas, including acoustic marine mammal deterrents, humane electrical fish stunning equipment, and underwater 3D cameras for biomass measurement. Their products are designed to enhance animal welfare and promote responsible marine practices. The US3 model of acoustic deterrent serves the fish farming sector by offering advanced features such as data logging and sonar triggering, while the MMD model targets longline fishermen and offshore platforms involved in activities like pile driving and oil spill responses. Through these innovations, Ace Aquatec aims to support sustainable practices in aquaculture and marine operations globally.

Molofeed

Venture Round in 2019
Molofeed (formerly MiniPro) is a Norwegian developer of larval feed for finfish and shrimp based on proprietary, micro-encapsulation technology. The company aims to solve an industry-specific issue of live feed production for fishes- besides being an expensive process, live feed supply is often limited, and adding to the problem is the fact that fish larvae aren’t able to digest nutrients in artificial feed.

BioFishency

Venture Round in 2019
BioFishency is developing a cost-effective, all-in-one water treatment system for land-based aquaculture. The system operates with all different aquaculture methods: extensive (land ponds), intensive (constructed ponds), and recirculated. It enables fish farms to double or triple production while continuing to use installed infrastructure. BioFishency overcomes the two key aquaculture challenges: limited water availability and buildup of toxic ammonia (excreted by the fish). It enhances the water conditions to increase the ability of the fish to survive, grow, and reproduce. With BioFishency’s system, farmers increase fish production with minimal investment, significantly increasing profitability and sustainability.

eFishery

Series A in 2018
eFishery is automatic fish feeder for all types of fish. This tool can not only provide feed scheduled, with a dose efficient, and automatic, but also record every feed in real-time. You can access the data feed, anytime, anywhere with precision. There is no longer a problem of over-feeding, fish feeding or feed irregularly diverted. eFishery provide the best solutions, reliable, and affordable.

CageEye

Venture Round in 2018
CageEye AS is a Norwegian company specializing in monitoring tools for aquaculture and hydroacoustic analysis. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Oslo, CageEye offers a range of products including SonarX, a scientific echosounder post-processing tool, and the CageEye Pelletdetektor, which aids decision-making during feeding by detecting pellets. The company also provides the CageEye IMRelay, a versatile feeding system suitable for various machines and light conditions. CageEye's products are designed for reliability and low maintenance, featuring easy installation and remote control capabilities. The company, which was formerly known as Lindem Data Acquisition AS until its rebranding in 2017, has extensive experience in instrumentation and hydroacoustics, covering everything from analog front-end hardware to end-user software.

xpertSea

Series A in 2018
XpertSea Solutions Inc. is a Canadian technology company focused on enhancing the aquaculture industry by providing innovative tools for counting and analyzing aquatic organisms. Established in 2009 and based in Quebec, XpertSea offers XperCount, a device that enables users to count, size, and image small aquatic organisms. The company also features a comprehensive platform that generates, stores, and analyzes data related to aquatic populations. By integrating smart aquaculture equipment with a farm management system, XpertSea delivers insights powered by artificial intelligence, helping farmers optimize feed efficiency, reduce environmental waste, and implement disease prevention measures. With a presence in over 50 countries, XpertSea connects shrimp buyers and farmers through a data-driven marketplace that facilitates secure transactions and promotes sustainable practices in seafood farming.

Hatch Blue

Venture Round in 2018
Hatch Blue Limited is an accelerator that focuses on pre-seed and early-stage startups within the aquaculture sector. Founded in 2017 and based in Cork, Ireland, the firm invests in companies specializing in areas such as nutrition, health, genetics, biotechnology, production, and technology. Hatch Blue offers a three-month intensive program that includes housing, providing selected startups with funding ranging from €0.10 million to €1 million, with the possibility of additional investment if needed. The firm aims to support and scale innovative solutions in aquaculture to drive industry advancements.

Proteon Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2017
PROTEON uses precision biology for microbiome protection to improve animal and human health, increasing environmental sustainability and eliminating the unnecessary use of antibiotics. We have developed a platform to develop and deliver bacteriophages for animal health solutions. Our pipeline includes solutions to prophylactically improve performance and food safety in poultry, as well as important prevent economically important bacterial diseases in aquaculture and dairy.

Ecto

Venture Round in 2017
Ecto develops technology at the intersection of data and biology to enable a more efficient and sustainable aquaculture industry. We collaborate with farmers to streamline production and health management by leveraging advanced molecular tools and digital technologies. To date, our solutions have enabled farmers to create 51,510,714 additional healthy servings of protein. Ecto has offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Stavanger (Norway) and serves customers all over the world. The company was founded at Harvard Innovation Labs in 2013 by Dmitry Kozachenok, MBA and James Webb, Ph.D. The company has received competitive research grants from the US National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, and Innovation Norway.

Protix

Venture Round in 2017
Protix B.V. is a Netherlands-based company that specializes in the production of functional insect proteins and lipids for animal feed, particularly for cattle, fish, and pets. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Dongen, with an additional production facility in Bergen op Zoom, Protix converts organic residual streams, such as food scraps from meat, fish, and dairy, into high-quality protein meals and insect fats. These products serve as sustainable alternatives to traditional fishmeal and are designed to enhance feed solutions while promoting a more balanced food system. Through its innovative approach, Protix aims to provide clients with eco-friendly and organic nutrients that contribute to the transition toward sustainable agriculture.

Calysta

Series D in 2017
Calysta, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and manufacturing protein ingredients derived from sustainable sources. Based in Menlo Park, California, with additional locations in Houston, London, Stavanger, and Singapore, Calysta provides nutritional feeds and health products for fish and livestock, as well as chemicals used in various end products such as fibers, plastics, and building materials. The company also produces biofuels through innovative processes utilizing methane as a feedstock. Founded in 2011, Calysta was previously known as Calysta Energy before rebranding in 2014. Its technologies, including biological gas-to-liquids and gas-to-chemicals processes, aim to address global food security and meet the rising demand for sustainable protein in the aquaculture industry. The company has formed a strategic partnership with Bluestar Adisseo Company to enhance its market offerings.

LoveTheWild

Series A in 2017
Love The Wild creates exciting dinner solutions that are not only delicious, nutritious, and ecologically responsible. It sells an easy frozen kit of sustainable fish and bold sauce in the grocery store. Its customers are fish lovers who don’t always have time to cook from scratch or anyone who has been afraid to try cooking fish at home. They believe they can make a difference just by making dinner. It aims to make life better for oceans and people by taking the intimidation and risk out of exceptional fish dinners. As leaders in the aquaculture movement, they partner with and support farmers we trust to source only the highest quality sustainable fish, freeze it fresh, then pair it with vibrant ingredients from cuisines around the globe.

Indian Ocean Trepang

Venture Round in 2016
The Organic Sea Cucumber of Madagascar, Sandfish, Holothuria scabra. Sea cucumbers have been consumed as a delicacy, since as early as the 8th century. Today, sea cucumbers are critical to the Indo-Pacific region ecosystems, where local fishermen harvest them to meet rising global demand. But, due to the long-standing exploitation of the 70+ sea cucumber species - which have a commercial value -, tropical regions are seeing alarming extinctions of their respective local sea cucumber species. Indian Ocean Trepang (“IOT”) grows, processes and sells dried sea cucumbers to consumers worldwide, using a unique low-tech environmentally-sound model, for which a portion of its production is subcontracted to low-income fishermen giving them access to a growing and lucrative global market. IOT partners with local fishing villages, to return sea cucumber farming back to its natural spot, in the sea, and away from expensive facilities.

Matorka

Venture Round in 2016
Matorka ehf. produces seafood. The company focuses on land based farming of salmonid for world markets. It serves seafood restaurants and retailers. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Kopavogur, Iceland.

Sogn Aqua AS

Venture Round in 2016
Sogn Aqua AS produces halibut.

eFishery

Seed Round in 2015
eFishery is automatic fish feeder for all types of fish. This tool can not only provide feed scheduled, with a dose efficient, and automatic, but also record every feed in real-time. You can access the data feed, anytime, anywhere with precision. There is no longer a problem of over-feeding, fish feeding or feed irregularly diverted. eFishery provide the best solutions, reliable, and affordable.

Chicoa Fish Farm

Venture Round in 2015
Chicoa Fish Farm, established in 2017 and located in Maputo, Mozambique, is dedicated to producing and supplying tilapia fish. The company operates as a sustainable fish farming enterprise, aiming to enhance the aquaculture industry in the region. Chicoa Fish Farm emphasizes offshore breeding and careful genetic selection, coupled with sustainable husbandry practices. These methods not only provide a nutritious and scalable protein source but also demonstrate low feed conversion ratios. This approach enables small-scale farmers to achieve cost-effective and environmentally friendly fish production, contributing to a low carbon footprint and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices in Mozambique.

eFishery

Seed Round in 2014
eFishery is automatic fish feeder for all types of fish. This tool can not only provide feed scheduled, with a dose efficient, and automatic, but also record every feed in real-time. You can access the data feed, anytime, anywhere with precision. There is no longer a problem of over-feeding, fish feeding or feed irregularly diverted. eFishery provide the best solutions, reliable, and affordable.
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