ReelData, ViAqua Therapeutics, Moleaer, and Fishmeal and Oil Technology have all secured funding from the food-related investment firm and mark its first foray into the ocean economy.
“These investments are aligned with S2G’s commitment to supporting leading entrepreneurs in the blue economy who are building scalable solutions for a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem. S2G’s Ocean and Seafood Fund, the largest in North America, has led four of these investment rounds with strategic and financial partners, and has taken active board seats with three of the companies,” said the company in a press release.
“The entrepreneurs that we have invested behind are doing incredible work in making our oceans and water ecosystems more resilient and sustainable,” said Kate Danaher, managing director at S2G Ventures. “Sustainably managed and healthy ecosystems are a pillar of global environmental recovery, a driver of economic growth, and a foundation for food security and human health.”
S2G’s Oceans and Seafood Fund is looking for investments that will build marine ecosystem resilience, de-risk the ocean supply chain, maximize the value of natural resources and support animal and human health.
ReelData
Founded in Canada in 2018 by Mathew Zimola and Dr Hossein Salimian, ReelData’s software solutions aim to increase the profitability, sustainability, and scalability of land-based aquaculture by using sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and user-friendly interfaces to provide producers with predictive analytics, systems optimisation and automation. The company’s initial products include AI informed feeding systems, biomass estimation and health / stress analytics.
ViAqua Therapeutics
Founded in Israel in 2014 by Shai Ufaz and Shai Einbinder, ViAqua is a biotechnology producer of an orally administered particle-based platform for the delivery of RNA and protein to improve resistance against diseases. The company’s initial therapeutic utilises a proprietary double-strand RNA (dsRNA) particle encapsulation that triggers the anti-viral RNAi in shrimp cells to fight and suppress white spot syndrome. S2G believes the ViAqua team has the potential to apply its technology across all aquaculture species and platforms where cost-effective RNA production and novel delivery systems (such as nano and micro encapsulation) are needed.
Moleaer
Founded in the US in 2016 by Warren Russel and Bruce Scholten, Moleaer develops industrial-scale nanobubble production technology that helps to deliver chemical-free water treatment, sustainable food production, and the recovery of natural resources. Its patented technology sustainably increases productivity across industries, most notably improving irrigation water quality and increasing crop yields, restoring water bodies by eliminating harmful algae and pathogens, improving fish health and production, and increasing recoveries of natural resources.
Fishmeal and Oil Technology Company
Based in the United States, the company holds proprietary zero-waste fishmeal and oil production technology which converts low value resources into high-end products in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner. S2G sees the potential to expand this technology to maximize the value of global protein production in existing fisheries, combat invasive aquatic species, and reduce pressure on overfished wild stocks.
“We are at an inflection point where it’s possible to harness technological innovations and reimagine the industry in a way that is beneficial for the planet, consumers, investors and the economy,” said Larsen Mettler, S2G Ventures managing director. “We see huge potential in this sector and look forward to long-term collaboration with entrepreneurs, strategic partners and other investors who are excited about this market opportunity.”
