Cell-Cultured Tuna Is Making Its Way to Restaurants, Marking a Sea-Change for the Seafood Industry

Kate Wheeling
Kate Wheeling is a freelance environmental journalist based in California. You can find more of her work in outlets including Outside, Medium, Hakai Magazine and Smithsonian Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @katewheeling.
Cell-Cultured Tuna Is Making Its Way to Restaurants, Marking a Sea-Change for the Seafood Industry
Lead Image by Ian Hurley

In the fall of 2017, Lou Cooperhouse took the stage at the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation conference to talk about what he saw as the trend that would lead to the total transformation of our food supply: alternative proteins.

At the time, Cooperhouse — whose long career in food innovation includes founding and running Rutgers Food Innovation Center, an incubator for startups — was working with multiple companies making plant-based products. (Impossible Foods Inc., of Impossible Burger fame, was a client.) But the real transformative technology, in his view, was the use of cell culturing to make meat from animal cells — products that would have the look, feel, taste and nutritional content of real meat, because that's exactly what they are.


The first cell-cultured hamburger — a five-ounce patty that cost more than $300,000 to produce — was made in 2013, and a slew of beef and poultry-based products were under development. "I said to myself, that's amazing technology," Cooperhouse said, "but the real home run, the holy grail, would be seafood."

Chris Somogyi, an entrepreneur in the audience that day, agreed. Before the year was out, Somogyi and Cooperhouse had teamed up with Chris Dammann to launch BlueNalu, a seafood-focused cell culture company. Since its founding in 2017, the San Diego-based company has become the first to create stable cell lines from a variety of fin fish. (Both Somogyi and Dammann have since left the company.)

The cell-based protein industry is booming. Dozens of startups trying to grow food in labs have formed in the United States in recent years, and they raised more money in the first quarter of 2020 — some $189 million — than in all previous years combined,according to the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for alternative meats.

Lou CooperhouseBlueNalu President + CEO Lou Cooperhouse

So far, only one company has made it to market: theU.S.-based start-up Eat Just received regulatory approval to sell it's cell-cultured chicken at a restaurant in Singapore in late 2020. One of the major obstacles for many companies has been cost, and most are still working to bring down the price of the raw materials, scale-up production and gain regulatory approval. A few more are expected to hit the market this year. Byone estimate, as much as 35% of meat will be cultured by 2040, buoyed by efforts to reduce carbon emissions, antibiotic use and the risk of disease.

But to Cooperhouse, seafood, more than any other industry, is in need of a transformation: Overfishing has pushed fisheries around the globe to the brink of collapse. Ocean acidification, heat waves, plastic pollution, and more threaten the stocks that are left. Research suggests that as many as60% of the marine species humans fish are at a high risk for extinction in the coming years. Yet demand continues to rise since at least the mid-20th century.According to the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization, the rise in global fish consumption since 1961 has outpaced both population growth and increases in production of other meat products.

"Our global supply gap is only getting worse, our supply is increasingly compromised with mercury and environmental pollutants and plastics, and we just can't feed the world," Cooperhouse said. But in cell culture technology, he saw an opportunity to create a stable supply of one of the world's most sought-after protein sources, easing pressure on our oceans and feeding the world at the same time.

In January, the 40-person company announced it had raised $60 million in debt financing led by Rage Capital, bringing its total fundraising up to more than $84 million. BlueNalu's other significant investors include New Crop Capital, Lewis & Clark Agrifood, Siddhi Capital, and Rich Products Corp. The latest round of funding is expected to see the company through the next two phases of its development, according to Cooperhouse: FDA approval, and the initial launch of its products in select restaurants in San Diego.

It's too soon to say which restaurants those will be.

After market testing in restaurants, BlueNalu plans to scale up production with the construction of more factories, creating jobs and providing consumers with a third option to farmed or wild caught fish.

Already, the company is building out its facility in San Diego. By the end of the year, it will be capable of producing several hundred pounds of cell-cultured fish per week.

The Good Food Institute, which has called on the Biden administration to allocate some $2 billion toward research and research facilities for alternative proteins, believes that the production of plant-based and cell-cultured meats "will spark a renaissance in American manufacturing."

The San Diego Startup That’s Making Seafood More Stable, Sustainable and Healthy

Critics of cell-cultured meat worry that the product could put farmers and fishermen out of work, but BlueNalu claims that it is carefully choosing its products with these issues in mind. Its first product to market will be mahi-mahi, a nod to the company's Hawaiian roots, and the most practical choice for a company that's trying not to compete with U.S. fisheries.

"We're specifically targeting seafood that are typically imported, that are high in mercury or other contaminants, or they can't be farm-raised at all," Cooperhouse said. A cell-cultured Bluefin tuna, a species that is both overfished and high in mercury, will follow. "The bottom line is there's a fundamental global supply chain gap. If we don't find another solution, we will be out of fish or it will be so high priced it will be unattainable."

The National Fisheries Institute, a nonprofit focused on seafood sustainability, is supportive of cell-cultured seafood as part of the solution. "As the global demand for seafood increases, so will the need for innovative solutions like cell-cultured products," an NFI spokesperson said by email.

The final challenge for the first cell-based fish company is marketing. To prepare for direct-to-consumer sales, BlueNalu worked with the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood and the NFI to agree on a term that would allow the public to distinguish between wild-caught, farmed and fish grown from fish cells: cell-cultured. The term can be used more broadly to distinguish proteins from animals, and those made from animal cells.

As CEO, Cooperhouse has worked to distance BlueNalu from earlier cell-cultured products presented to the public as meat grown in petri dishes. BlueNalu's facility is a food factory, he says, not a lab.

"We are first and foremost a food company," he said. "BlueNalu is a culinary driven company. We are making great-tasting seafood products with all the sensory benefits, all that you love about seafood, but without the mercury, microplastics or pollutants."

Lead Image by Ian Hurley.

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💰Bankruptcy to Billion Dollar Sale: Impressive LA Startup Success Stories

In the wake of the latest jobs report and its impact on the stock market, we thought it might be refreshing to shine a light on some LA startup success stories. Los Angeles has long been a fertile ground for interesting startups, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across various industries. Among its success stories are Ring, Riot Games, SpaceX, Dollar Shave Club, and Fabletics—each of which has made a significant impact in its field.


Image Source: Amazon

Ring, originally conceived as DoorBot, was created in 2013 by Jamie Siminoff in Los Angeles, California, with the goal of revolutionizing home security. The idea sparked in 2011 when he kept missing deliveries because he was in his garage and hadn’t been able to hear the doorbell, leading him to create a smartphone-connected doorbell that allowed homeowners to see and communicate with visitors remotely. Despite initial struggles, including being on the verge of bankruptcy and a rejection on Shark Tank, where Siminoff sought $700,000 for a stake in the company, the exposure from the show propelled sales and visibility. In 2014, the company rebranded to Ring, and its innovative products, including the iconic Ring Video Doorbell, quickly gained popularity, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Amazon in 2018 for approximately $1 billion, marking a significant milestone in the smart home industry.


Image Source: Riot Games

Riot Games was founded in September 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill in Santa Monica, California. The inception of Riot Games was driven by Beck and Merrill's shared vision to create a game that emphasized longevity and continuous player engagement. With an initial funding of $1.5 million from family and angel investors, they set out to develop League of Legends, a game that would go on to redefine the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre and become a cornerstone of the esports industry. The company’s commitment to a player-first approach and its innovative free-to-play model, which generated revenue through in-game purchases, quickly garnered a massive following. Riot Games' headquarters in West Los Angeles became the birthplace of a global gaming phenomenon, solidifying its status as a major player in both game development and esports.


Image Source: SpaceX

SpaceX was born out of Elon Musk's ambitious vision to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars. In 2002, after selling his stake in PayPal, Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in a small office in El Segundo. The company's humble beginnings in the heart of Southern California's aerospace industry were marked by skepticism from established players. From this Los Angeles base, SpaceX would go on to revolutionize the space industry, developing reusable rockets and becoming the first private company to send astronauts to the International Space Station, all while maintaining its significant presence in the region for nearly two decades before announcing plans to move its headquarters to Texas in 2024.


Image Source: TIME

Dollar Shave Club was founded in 2011 in Venice, California, by Michael Dubin and Mark Levine, who were inspired by their frustrations with the high cost of razor blades. The duo's innovative approach combined a subscription model with a humorous marketing strategy, launching with a viral YouTube video that showcased their product in a lighthearted manner. This video quickly garnered millions of views and led to an overwhelming response, crashing their website shortly after launch. Dollar Shave Club's success not only disrupted the traditional razor market dominated by giants like Gillette but also paved the way for a new wave of direct-to-consumer brands, ultimately culminating in its acquisition by Unilever for $1 billion in 2016.


Image Source: Fabletics

Fabletics, the popular activewear brand co-founded by actress Kate Hudson in 2013, began its journey in Los Angeles, California. The company was established with the vision of providing stylish and high-performance athletic apparel that caters to a diverse range of body types and lifestyles. Fabletics operates on a unique membership model, allowing customers to access exclusive discounts and personalized shopping experiences. Since its inception, the brand has rapidly expanded, launching various product lines, including men's apparel and scrubs, and has become known for its collaborations with celebrities like Kevin Hart and Khloé Kardashian. Fabletics has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the activewear market, emphasizing inclusivity and community engagement while revolutionizing the way consumers approach fitness fashion.

From redefining home security to revolutionizing gaming, these LA startups showcase the city's extraordinary ability to innovate across a diverse array of industries.


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'Not All VCs Have Turned MAGA'— Tech VC’s Bold Support for Kamala Harris
Image Source: Politico

🔦 Spotlight

Several prominent tech investors, including Mark Cuban, Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, and Spencer Rascoff of 75 and Sunny, along with more than 500 others have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election through an initiative led by Seattle investor John Schilling. This pledge, which also includes key LA-based firms like Backstage Capital, Bonfire, MaC Venture Capital, and Upfront Ventures, signals a unified effort among tech leaders to support Harris's candidacy. The pledge highlights their commitment to pro-business and pro-entrepreneurship values while emphasizing the importance of democratic institutions.

The pledge states: “We the undersigned are Venture Capital investors, founders and tech leaders who pledge to vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. We spend our days looking for, investing in and supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future. We are pro-business, pro-American dream, pro-entrepreneurship, and pro-technological progress. We also believe in democracy as the backbone of our nation. We believe that strong, trustworthy institutions are a feature, not a bug, and that our industry - and every other industry - would collapse without them. That is what’s at stake in this election. Everything else, we can solve through constructive dialogue with political leaders and institutions willing to talk to us. In this pivotal moment, we are united in our support for Vice President Kamala Harris. We invite you to join us.” Additionally, the pledge clarifies, “This pledge is not a declaration of your politics or party alignment. It just means you intend to vote and support Harris for President in this election.”

For Los Angeles, this initiative highlights a significant shift in how tech leaders are engaging in political advocacy. With LA being a major center for innovation and venture capital, the involvement of these high-profile investors and firms signals a powerful alignment against conservative trends and states “Let’s show founders that not all VCs have turned MAGA,” reflecting a broader trend of progressive political support in the tech industry.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • ZeroTier, a network security startup, raised a $13.5M Series A led by Battery Ventures, with Bonfire Ventures, Anorak Ventures, Grand Enterprises B.V., Airbridge Equity Partners and First In Ventures also participating. - learn more
  • Look North World, a video game studio and publisher dedicated to the Creator platforms, raised an additional $2.25M Seed Funding led by London Venture Partners and others. - learn more

LA Venture Funds

  • Supply Change Capital led a $3.5M Seed Round for Terrantic, a two-year-old Seattle startup whose platform helps growers, packers, and food processors optimize yield, throughput, and quality by analyzing existing data. - learn more
  • Mantis Venture Capital participated in a $20M Round Extension for Haus, a startup whose marketing measurement platform uses causal attribution to determine the effectiveness of marketing efforts. - learn more
  • Caden Capital Partners participated in a $45M Series C for Rhombus, a startup whose platform enables businesses to deploy and manage security devices, offering features like real-time notifications and advanced analytics while also integrating with existing systems. - learn more

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🗓️ Essential LA Tech Calendars and Events

Los Angeles is rapidly emerging as a vibrant tech hub, offering a wealth of opportunities for those eager to dive into the industry. With numerous organizations hosting events tailored to aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, there's no better time to get involved. From networking mixers and educational workshops to pitch competitions and industry panels, the LA tech scene is brimming with chances to connect, learn, and grow. Keep an eye on the following calendars and events to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for networking, learning, and career growth.


AI LA Event Calendar

Artificial Intelligence Los Angeles (AI LA) is a public benefit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; supporting the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) communities of the Greater Los Angeles area. AI LA hosts numerous events every month. Some of the upcoming events include AI Policy Happy Hour; LA GenAI Meetup, and LA Founders & Investors.

Find them on: LinkedIn, Luma, Instagram, X, YouTube


Startup Coil Event Calendar

Startup Coil is a community that offers various services to entrepreneurs including putting on events to help build through startup events. Startup Coil partners with KINN, a membership network, accelerator and collaborative workspace, to put on a weekly event called Startup Cafe, in which entrepreneurs, startups, and tech enthusiasts join together every Wednesday at 8:45 am to 10:30 am to meet and connect with like-minded people, industry professionals and investors, while enjoying a nice cup of coffee. They also put on tech happy hours and many other partnered events. Some of this summer’s events have included an LA Tech BBQ and a Tech Summer Party.

Find them on: LinkedIn, Instagram, X


Expert Dojo Event Calendar

Expert Dojo is an active international early-stage startup accelerator in Southern California. They have an 8,500 SF venue three blocks away from the Santa Monica Pier with a rooftop overlooking 3rd Street Promenade. They host numerous events in LA and partner with many groups. Keep an eye out for their next event!

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


Just Go Grind Event Calendar

Just Go Grind, founded by Justin Gordon, is a platform that provides valuable insights and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs through interviews and articles featuring successful founders. In addition to its online content, Just Go Grind also hosts events that foster networking and learning opportunities within the entrepreneurial community. Some of their upcoming events include LA Startup Community Basketball, Pitch and Run LA, and LA Startup Community Coffee Meetup.

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


Techstars LA Event Calendar

Techstars Los Angeles is an accelerator program that supports early-stage startups through mentorship and investment, focusing on diverse and underrepresented founders across various sectors such as healthcare, fintech, and aerospace. They host many events like Demo Day, where startups pitch their businesses to a community of investors and mentors, fostering networking and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


TechWeek Los Angeles

LA Tech Week is an annual event in Los Angeles that showcases the region's burgeoning startup ecosystem through a series of diverse events, including networking opportunities, panel discussions, and workshops, aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration among tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Scheduled for October 14-20, 2024, it features around 30 events, such as fireside chats with industry leaders and pitch competitions for early-stage startups, all designed to connect participants with investors and thought leaders in the tech community.

Find them on:X, YouTube


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