WorldFish launches new venture platform to scale aquaculture innovations

WorldFish Ventures to help turn aquaculture innovations into scalable solutions by attracting private investment and partners

WorldFish has launched a new venture platform aimed at attracting investment to scale innovations in aquatic food systems.

The platform, called WorldFish Ventures, will operate as a wholly owned commercial subsidiary, focused on bringing research-driven solutions to market through partnerships and private-sector funding.

The move marks a shift toward market-based approaches to expand the reach of technologies developed by WorldFish, including improved fish strains, fisheries management tools and digital platforms, particularly in underserved markets.

“WorldFish Ventures reflects a deliberate step forward in how we deliver impact,” said Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl, chair of the WorldFish board of trustees. “The board has placed strong emphasis on ensuring that WorldFish’s scientific excellence is matched by mechanisms that enable scale. This structure provides the right balance between maintaining mission integrity and engaging effectively with market actors to expand reach and sustainability.”

WorldFish Ventures will focus on attracting private investment and expanding the use of aquaculture and fisheries innovations in priority markets across Africa and Asia.

Its initial portfolio includes improved fish genetics, digital tools and data platforms, and training programs such as the WorldFish Academy. The platform will also work with external partners, including startups, research institutions and private companies, to bring additional technologies to market.

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“Scientific breakthroughs only achieve their full value when they reach scale,” said Essam Yassin Mohammed, director general of WorldFish. “WorldFish Ventures is designed to harness market forces to accelerate that process – enabling us to deliver solutions at the pace and scale required, particularly in underserved markets where the opportunity for impact is greatest.”

The venture will begin with a pilot phase, working with partners across the value chain to test business models and delivery systems, with a focus on long-term financial sustainability.

It will operate under a governance structure designed to maintain oversight of WorldFish’s intellectual assets while allowing greater flexibility to work with private investors and industry partners.

The launch reflects a broader effort by WorldFish to link research with market-based approaches and partnerships to expand access to aquatic food technologies.