A programme aimed at supporting sustainable aquaculture technology has put together a senior fund advisory board ahead of launching its third cohort at the Natural Energy Lab Hawaii in Kona, Big Island.
Hatch was founded in 2018 and is the world’s first accelerator programme for sustainable aquaculture technology startups.
“We are combining some big names in aquaculture and venture capital in our board of advisors, all of them successful entrepreneurs and investors themselves," explained Carsten Krome, managing partner at Hatch. "Our fund advisory board has been instrumental in helping us raise the funds so far and most of our advisors are also invested themselves.“
The board for the first-ever aquaculture technology venture fund comprises founder and former chief executive of Rubicon Resources, Brian Wynn; Seafood Innovation Cluster board chairman, Einar Wathne; founder partner of Astanor Ventures and global chairman of the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, Eric Archambeau and founder of Kaizen Reserve and Vintage Capital Investments, Kai Sato.
The board is expected to have a major impact on the upcoming Hatch cohort, as well as the existing portfolio. The company has already completed the first close at around half of its €8 million funding goal.
Carsten Krome added, “This is the first seed fund that has ever been raised for aquaculture startups. It's a great indication that investor interest in the sector is continuously growing, and that is to no surprise to us given the opportunities we are presented with. Aquaculture is ready to become a mainstream venture capital target.“
