Aqua Spark
Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
Utrecht, Netherlands
Countries of investment
- Netherlands
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Singapore
- Indonesia
- Chile
- Kenya
- Mozambique
- India
- Canada
Investment stages
- Seed
- Series A
- Series B
Industries
- Aquaculture
- Alternative Seafood
- Fish Feed
- Aquatic Health
- Ocean Tech
- Blue Economy
About
Aqua-Spark is a Utrecht-based global investment fund dedicated exclusively to sustainable aquaculture. Their portfolio of 30+ companies spans alternative feed, disease management, digital farm tech, and cultivated seafood across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The firm operates through an open-ended fund structure with a dedicated Africa-focused vehicle.
Aqua-Spark is a Utrecht-based global investment fund dedicated exclusively to sustainable aquaculture. Their portfolio of 30+ companies spans alternative feed, disease management, digital farm tech, and cultivated seafood across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The firm operates through an open-ended fund structure with a dedicated Africa-focused vehicle.
Investment Thesis
Aqua-Spark is a global investment fund exclusively dedicated to sustainable aquaculture, backing SMEs across the aquatic value chain producing safe, accessible fish, shellfish, and plants without harming oceans. They invest across alternative feed ingredients, digital farm management, disease management, and cultivated seafood technologies. The firm differentiates itself through its open-ended fund structure, dedicated Africa Fund, and position as the only pure-play global aquaculture investor with a ~€260M platform.
Manager's Experience
Co-Founders and Managing Partners Mike Velings and Amy Novogratz established Aqua-Spark in 2013 as the world's first dedicated sustainable aquaculture investment fund, pioneering the asset class. Velings brings serial entrepreneurship credentials with multiple successful exits, while Novogratz (former Director of TED Prize) contributes deep impact investing networks. Managing Directors Willem van der Pijl and CEO Lissy Smit round out the senior team. With 300+ investors from 25+ countries (family offices, institutional investors, foundations), the Utrecht-based team operates an evergreen structure across 58 aquaculture investments and 14 exits, building an integrated portfolio approach unique to the sector.
Team
Mike Velings – Co-Founder / Managing Partner
Amy Novogratz – Co-Founder / Managing Partner
Willem van der Pijl – Managing Director
Lissy Smit – Managing Director
Portfolio
Protix
Calysta
eFishery
Shiok Meats
XpertSea
Proteon
Sogn Aqua
Matorka
Hatch Blue
Alune