In San Francisco, cultivated salmon producer Wildtype has raised $100 million in a series B funding as it works to build capacity and prepare for commercial launch in the US.
The round was led by L Catterton, and includes investments from Leonardo DiCaprio, Bezos Expeditions, Robert Downey Jr.’s FootPrint Coalition, NBA All-Star Blake Griffin, Temasek, S2G Ventures Oceans and Seafood Fund, Cargill, and several prominent chefs and professional athletes. Existing investors, including Spark Capital and CRV, also participated in the round. Since its founding in 2016, Wildtype has raised more than $120 million.
“This investment provides us with the capital necessary to dramatically expand our production capabilities to match the rapid growth in awareness and demand for cultivated seafood,” said Wildtype Co-Founder and CEO Justin Kolbeck. “Whether you are looking for mercury and microplastic-free seafood options, or trying to eat more sustainably, we want Wildtype seafood to be accessible to as many people as possible. The enthusiastic support from our high-caliber group of investors will help us achieve this.”
Wildtype last year unveiled its sushi-grade salmon offering and opened a first-of-its-kind pilot production plant in San Francisco. In a press statement, DiCaprio called Wildtype the “clear leader” in cultivated seafood, “which will give us the chance to protect our oceans while creating the cleanest seafood on the planet.”