ARK Inc. announces fundraising

(Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Koyo Takenoshita) announces that it has completed a seed financing round. With the funds raised this time, the company will strengthen its research, development, and manufacturing systems, as well as promote demonstration experiments and social implementation toward the commercialization of small-scale, decentralized land-based aquaculture using the ARK land-based aquaculture system with various collaborators.

 

Comments from investors (in alphabetical order)

 

Mr. Yujiro Akatsu, President and Representative Director, Aqua Clara Lemon Gas Holdings Co.I felt empathy with ARK's efforts to address the major social issues faced by the ocean in Shonan, where our company is also based. Water, energy, and food are issues common to all humankind, and I look forward to taking on various challenges together in the future.

 

Mr. Yusuke Nakagawa, President and Representative Director, Asobi Systems Co.

I am happy to have met such an exciting startup, and I believe that the small, decentralized land-based aquaculture system proposed by ARK is something that the earth will need in the future. I believe that ARK will become indispensable to the world of the future. I am looking forward to the future with the multiplication of entertainment.

 

Mr. VERBAL, President of AMBUSH / Music Producer

Materials and products made with consideration for the natural environment and workers are now required as a matter of course, and proving sustainability has become a necessary condition for the fashion business. I was impressed by ARK's proposal.

 

Mr. Yusuke Funada, Representative Director of Ebinoya and President of Yabu Suisan Co.

When I learned about the wonderful ARK's compact and decentralized land-based aquaculture system through prawns, I was convinced that it is a technology that can bring innovation to the fishery industry. I was also impressed by the fact that we had the same problems to solve and the same future to aim for, and I would like to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by building a new supply chain together using ARK's land-based aquaculture system and Yabu Fisheries' technology and experience gained over 20 years in the fishery industry.

 

Shujiro Kusumoto, President of Cafe Company, Inc.

I am struck by the individuality of the three founding members of ARK and their pure eyes, and I am also motivated every day by their attitude of challenging the future of food head-on. Let us work together to realize and spread a "delicious" recycling-oriented production system in 2050, when the world's population will reach 9.7 billion, and even further into the future!

 

Mr. Yutaka Shibata, President, JR East Startup Co.

A black box sits on a vacant lot in Hiratsuka, Shonan. When I saw the shrimp swimming around in a small container the size of a parking lot, I was more amused than impressed.

I felt an overwhelming sense of empathy for the future of marine resources through the small-scale, decentralized land-based aquaculture that ARK is trying to achieve. Together with ARK, we are taking on the challenge of Japan's first aquaculture at a train station. We will start from Namie Station on the Joban Line. We will seriously support ARK!

 

Mr. Fumiharu Muroga, Growth Manager, Realtech Holdings Co.Although it has only been in business for about a year, the product is highly complete and has started demonstration experiments in collaboration with major domestic companies. The most attractive point of the company is its management team, which can develop business in top gear while focusing on manufacturing. There are many players in the land-based aquaculture industry, but ARK is able to provide new innovations to the fisheries industry by pursuing the advantages of a small closed system.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)