© Atarraya
Atarraya Inc., the sustainable shrimp farming technology company behind the modular, urban-friendly Shrimpbox, today announced a $5 million funding round led by Animo Ventures, alongside other strategic investors. The capital raise follows a year of significant commercial growth for the company, with quarterly sales doubling and gross margins exceeding 50 percent.
The announcement coincides with the imposition of new US tariffs on imported shrimp,which took effect on 7 August. With international supply chains facing disruption, Atarraya’s locally produced, antibiotic-free shrimp is emerging as a critical solution – providing fresh and traceable products to high-demand urban markets.
Atarraya’s latest facility in Plainfield, New Jersey, which was launched in November 2024, features the company’s next-generation Shrimpbox Air system. Already backed by a $2 million contract, the site is strategically positioned to serve the New York City metro area. The model has achieved a 50 percent reduction in capital expenditure per kilogram of production, a major milestone in making sustainable aquaculture economically viable.
“Our Indiana facility proved the unit economics; our New Jersey farm proves we can scale it in high-demand urban centers,” said Daniel Russek, chief executive and founder of Atarraya, in a press release.
To support its market expansion, Atarraya has named renowned chef and sustainable seafood advocate Barton Seaver – award-winning chef, National Geographic Explorer and author – as its new brand ambassador. Seaver is actively introducing Atarraya to corporate dining partners and foodservice leaders positioned to scale the impact of its solution.
“Atarraya isn’t just farming shrimp; it’s rebuilding a local seafood economy. By proving shrimp can be grown responsibly, indoors, 40 minutes from Manhattan, they’re rewriting how protein can be produced – cleanly, transparently and close to the people who eat it.” said Seaver.
Atarraya will host tastings and tours at its New Jersey facility throughout the rest of the year, welcoming chefs, investors and seafood industry stakeholders to experience its zero-waste, closed-loop shrimp production system firsthand.
"Atarraya represents exactly the kind of transformative innovation needed in our global food systems," said Antonio Osio, general partner at Animo. "Their combination of cutting-edge technology, scalable business model and commitment to sustainability positions them as the leader in reinventing how we produce and consume seafood in the United States."
