U.S. company Atlantic Fish Co., which grows fillets from muscle cells of fish, has closed a $1.2 million seed funding round. The company will use the funds to finalize their go-to-market product and secure the regulatory approval to launch in the U.S.
Atlantic Fish Co. said its platform technology works across any species—the team has successfully demonstrated the technology with both seafood and land-based proteins—but is starting with high-value whitefish. Its platform produces lean muscle —starting with black sea bass—that delivers restaurant-quality fillets without mercury, microplastics, antibiotics, or parasites. The company is building toward regulatory submission and launch in collaboration with chefs and foodservice partners.
“The cultivated meat sector has learned expensive lessons, and there are still only a handful of products on the market,” said Doug Grant, CEO of Atlantic Fish Co. “We’ve stayed capital-efficient with disciplined milestones and focused on seafood, the category best positioned to break through.”
Katapult Ocean, Alwyn Capital, DMV Capital, the Georgetown Angel Investment Network (GAIN), and other mission-aligned investors participated in the round. In addition, AFC has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“Doug, Trevor, and the Atlantic Fish team have demonstrated outstanding execution in the nearly two years since our first conversation, consistently hitting technical milestones and advancing their platform toward what we believe is breakthrough technology in cultivated protein,” said Sam Selig, Investment Manager of Katapult Ocean. “Supporting the initial commercialization of their sustainable white fish filet—and their broader vision to expand across proteins—aligns perfectly with our mission to back ocean- and health-friendly blue foods with meaningful market opportunity and impact.”
