Switzerland-based food tech startup catchfree has raised CHF 1.2 million (USD 1.5 million) in seed funding, with leading support from FortyOne Group and Stiftung Startfeld.
“Catchfree raised money – not fish,” company said announcing the news on LinkedIn. “This funding helps us bring catchfree to more plates, creating food experiences that fit seamlessly into everyday life, bring joy, support your health, and align with a more positive environmental impact.”
The company produces plant-based shrimp, fish burgers, and fish bites with microalgae and other plant proteins; founders Eduard Müller and Severin Eder began the project at the Swiss Technical Institute of Technology.
Müller said in a press release that “while there are already numerous meat alternatives, high-quality plant-based seafood options remain scarce."
"We are closing this gap with catchfree. Our long-term goal is to meet the growing demand for sustainable and flavorful seafood alternatives by building a trusted brand and continually expanding our product offerings to serve evolving consumer tastes," Müller said.
The seed funding will support the company’s expansion into the Swiss foodservice sector and, by fall 2025, into the retail market.
While the product is vegetarian, Eder said that the company is focusing on attracting any “environmentally conscious consumers [who] want to enjoy healthier food – for themselves and for the planet.”
“That's exactly what catchfree offers: an alternative that is just as indulgent and versatile as traditional fish but made from plant-based protein," Eder said. "Our products feature a minimalist ingredient list and a particularly gentle production process that preserves valuable nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids."
The leading investors in the project are St. Gallen, Switzerland-based private equity firm FortyOne Group, which sources its funds only from its four shareholders and only invests in unlisted companies that “make a difference,” and the Startfield Foundation, also based in St. Gallen, which exclusively supports Swiss innovation.
The seed funding for catchfree was also raised from, the company said, “a wave of seasoned entrepreneurs.”
