cultivated fish fat
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This startup is the 1st to make cultivated fish fat in the world—and it just debuted in Japan
Vulcan Post· 2025-10-02 08:57
Core Insights - ImpacFat has officially expanded into Japan, establishing a shared laboratory and office in Tokyo, marking its first international move outside of Singapore [1][4]. Company Overview - ImpacFat is recognized as the first company globally to cultivate omega-3-rich fat from fish stem cells, eliminating common contaminants found in wild-caught fish [2][10]. - The startup was founded in 2019 by Mandy Hon and Dr. Shigeki Sugii, originating from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology at Singapore's A*STAR [7][8]. Strategic Partnerships - The expansion in Japan is in collaboration with East Japan Railway Company JR East, with plans to set up at Link Scholar's Hub (LiSH) in Takanawa Gateway City [4][5]. - Key investments from both Japanese and Singaporean investors are aimed at accelerating innovation in sustainable food ingredients, supplements, and cosmetics [5]. Market Positioning - ImpacFat aims to contribute to Japan's food security, sustainable development, and marine biodiversity protection [5]. - The company emphasizes the importance of fats in cultivated meats, addressing a gap in the market that many startups have overlooked [9]. Production and Cost Challenges - The startup faces challenges in scaling production due to high costs associated with cell-based technology, which requires biomedical-grade products [11]. - To mitigate costs, ImpacFat is producing components in-house, although this approach demands time and patience [12]. Future Outlook - The expansion into Japan is expected to provide access to strategic industrial expertise and commercialization networks, facilitating the company's progress toward global market entry [14].