Jacqueline Claudia, founder and CEO of LoveTheWild, was introduced to American actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio via a mutual contact she met at sustainable seafood competition Fish 2.0 in 2015. Two years later, that fortuitous meeting led to DiCaprio investing in LovetheWild, a Boulder, Colorado-based supplier of farm-raised frozen seafood kits, and joining its advisory board this week.
Aqua-Spark, an investment fund that seeks to address the planet's health and food security, along with other angel investors besides DiCaprio are participating in the company’s Series A funding round.
“Mr. DiCaprio’s investment, as well as his seat on our advisory board, is a major vote of confidence in aquaculture,” Claudia told SeafoodSource. “His support gives us further credibility and a unique opportunity to engage with consumers in a way that other seafood brands haven’t done before.”
Claudia is “very humbled that the quality of our products and integrity of our vision has attracted such a powerful group of supporters and investors.”
For his part, DiCaprio supports sustainable aquaculture in order to reduce pressure on wild stocks.
“Estimates show the Earth’s population approaching nine billion by 2050, putting tremendous pressure on our natural food resources. Seafood is a primary source of protein for nearly a billion people – but climate change, acidification and over fishing are putting increased pressure on our oceans’ natural stability,” DiCaprio said in a LoveTheWild statement. “LoveTheWild’s approach to sustainable, responsible aquaculture is promoting the development of a secure and environmentally-conscious solution to feeding our planet’s growing population.”
While Claudia would not reveal how much DiCaprio is investing in the firm, she said the funding will be used for product development, “as well as expanding our store footprint as much as possible.”
LoveTheWild’s frozen seafood meal kits are available in grocery chains across the United States, including in Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Sprouts, and Mom’s.
“By doing so, we hope to help make it easy for consumers make an impact on the environment through something as simple as choosing the right thing for dinner,” Claudia said. “We have no doubt that the involvement of all of our investors will further bring to life our mission of making high-quality seafood exciting, easy, and accessible, while also helping to bring awareness to the potential for responsible aquaculture to play an important role in our food future.”
