Founders Fund Bets on Humanely Killed Fish with Robotic System
Shinkei Systems has developed a robot called Poseidon that kills fish instantly, reducing stress and extending shelf life. Backed by Founders Fund, the company supplies fish to 50 Michelin-starred restaurants and has begun exporting to Japan.
At a recent TechCrunch event, Shinkei Systems founder Saif Khawaja and Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov discussed the company's unusual business model, which revolves around measuring fish stress. Shinkei's robot Poseidon, installed on fishing boats, uses computer vision to identify fish species and locate their brains. Within seconds of the fish leaving the water, it pierces the brain and severs the gills, preventing a slow death from suffocation. A slow death floods the meat with stress hormones and lactic acid, dulling flavor and shortening shelf life.
The process automates the centuries-old Japanese technique ike jime, allowing the flesh to be safely aged for days. Shinkei has evolved into a vertically integrated fish harvester and processor: it gives Poseidon machines to fishermen for free, pays a premium for the fish caught with them, and takes full ownership. The catch is processed at a 16,000-square-foot plant in Tacoma, Washington, and sold under the consumer brand Seremoni.
So far, the most visible proof point is a pilot with Erewhon, a Los Angeles grocery chain, which sells Shinkei's fish as Seremoni Grade Miso Black Cod. Khawaja says the company supplies restaurants holding a combined 50 Michelin stars, and claims that Japan is now importing U.S.-caught fish for the first time—a market that historically regarded American seafood as inferior.
Khawaja emphasizes that the real selling point is not animal welfare but practicality: shelf life extends from 5–7 days to 12–14 days, and fish have been cooked three weeks after catch without issue. Shinkei's new sensor system scans fish to project individual shelf life. According to Khawaja, about 18% of seafood is lost to spoilage between dock and store.
The U.S. seafood supply chain is notable for its heavy reliance on overseas processing: a significant share of fish caught in U.S. waters is frozen, shipped to China for labor-intensive processing, and then shipped back. Estimates suggest up to 90% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, with about half originating domestically. This system has drawn scrutiny due to reports of forced labor in Chinese processing plants. There is a growing push to reshore processing, and Shinkei, backed by Founders Fund, bets that vertical integration in Tacoma can be profitable enough to outcompete the China round trip.
Founders Fund intentionally avoids crowded categories like generic AI; Asparouhov estimates AI and defense make up only 15–20% of the fund's deployed capital. Shinkei joins other food and agriculture investments like Halter and Ohalo Genetics. The fund sees Shinkei as a novel company in a dysfunctional industry, building something few others would attempt.
