Sustainable aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark announced on 23 March, 2022, it has opened an office in Bangkok, Thailand, its first office outside of the Netherlands.
An investment fund dedicated to funding sustainable aquaculture, Aqua-Spark said the new location will focus on finding new deals for the main fund in the Netherlands and improving the fund’s market intelligence in the region. According to a release from the company, Bangkok was chosen due to the city’s status as a hub in global seafood supply chains and its growing agri-food start-up ecosystem.
“With approximately 90 percent of global seafood production taking place in Asia currently and more than 70 percent of the global seafood consumption expected to take place in Asia by 2030, Asia feels like a logical expansion step for us,” Aqua-Spark co-founders Amy Novogratz and Mike Velings said in a release. “We already have a strong connection to the region, but considering the magnitude of the sector, we aim to go deeper.”
Started in 2014, Aqua-Spark has EUR 300 million (USD 329 million) in assets under management, which it uses to invest in companies proposing sustainable aquaculture. The company has invested in a Singapore-based seaweed producer, a Sweden-based algae factory, a Brazil-based tilapia farm, Scotland-based tech innovator Ace Aquatec, and many more companies across the globe.
The new office in Bangkok will help it achieve more partnerships and investments in sustainable aquaculture projects in Southeast Asia, the firm said.
“We look forward to participating while expanding our own ecosystem and dealflow pipeline,” Aqua-Spark Head of Dealflow Tom Prins said. “Exciting new business models changing the way we produce, trade, and consume our seafood are finding more traction in Asia than anywhere else. While Aqua-Spark will always focus on the entire value chain, with this Bangkok office, we are especially excited to connect with more of the regional aquatech companies who are impressively transforming the industry through digitalization and added services it entails.”
Photo courtesy of eFishery
