Seatopia—Commercializing Sustainable Seafood.
“Working with Braid Theory and setting up a home-base at AltaSea provided us with the camaraderie we needed. Finding peers in the Blue Economy who understood our mission was crucial. It offered psychological support, mentorship, and validation.”
—James Arthur Smith, Founder & CEO, Seatopia
If you’re eating seafood for its health benefits, there’s a chance you’re not getting the nutrition you think you are. Seafood has long been considered one of the healthiest sources of protein, yet most farmed fish contain higher levels of inflammatory omega-6s than beneficial omega-3s, while mercury and microplastic contamination continue to be a concern. Consumers are often left in the dark, with no way to verify the quality, sourcing, or nutritional value of the seafood they purchase.
Addressing a Transparency Problem
Seatopia is pushing the sustainable seafood industry forward by aggregating consumer demand for premium, nutrient-dense fish and backing it with unparalleled transparency. The company offers comprehensive labeling that lets customers trace their seafood's journey from farm to plate, and review data on farming operations, feed origins, and cultivation methods. By setting a new standard for data-driven nutritional facts, Seatopia is empowering consumers to understand how clean, nutritionally dense, and bioavailable their seafood truly is.
Unlike traditional subscription-based companies, Seatopia ensures that every product undergoes comprehensive lab testing for omega-3 content, mercury levels, microplastic contamination, and other potential toxins, offering a level of transparency that no grocery store or restaurant provides.
Each package includes a QR code linking to a certificate of analysis, detailing:
- Where and how the seafood was farmed
- The exact feedstock used (microalgae-based feed)
- Nutritional composition, including mg of DHA and EPA per serving
- Results of mercury and microplastic tests
By eliminating uncertainty and providing verifiable proof of quality, Seatopia is redefining consumer expectations for seafood labeling and setting a new industry standard for transparency and nutrition.
Finding the Right Ecosystem for Growth
While Seatopia had a clear vision for transforming the seafood industry, scaling an innovative, mission-driven company required the right ecosystem of support. Initially operating out of a warehouse in Hawthorne, the Seatopia team found themselves isolated, surrounded by businesses that had no connection to the blue economy and no understanding of the complexity of sustainable aquaculture. Seatopia was not a conventional tech startup, and many struggled to grasp the nuances of a market-driven approach to sustainable aquaculture.
While exploring new warehouse space at AltaSea at The Port of Los Angeles, Seatopia met Braid Theory, a venture advisory with an accelerator program focused on supporting science and engineering-led companies in the blue economy. Seatopia quickly recognized the value of being embedded in an ecosystem where mentors, investors, and industry leaders shared an understanding of sustainable aquaculture’s challenges and opportunities. "Psychologically, it was a game-changer," says Seatopia’s founder and CEO, James Arthur Smith, reflecting on the impact of finding a network that not only supported the company’s mission but actively worked to help it grow.
Traction and Revenue
Seatopia’s rapid growth proves that consumers value and will pay the premium price for transparency and quality. The company has seen consistent revenue expansion, demonstrating strong consumer demand for clean, high-quality seafood:
- 2020: $54,000
- 2021: $334,154.02
- 2022: $553,534.95
- 2023: $981,922.13
- 2024: $2,649,477.49 (2.7× YoY)
- (January 2025 up 30% MoM)
Funding and Accelerated Growth
Seatopia accepted capital last summer from the aquaculture venture development fund, HATCH BLUE, and will participate in its program this spring, including weeklong sessions and investor meetings in Hawaii and Norway. The program culminates in a final investor pitch day in Singapore this May, at which time the company plans to officially open its Series A round. In the interim, Seatopia has decided to raise a bridge round via a SAFE note, initiated during Braid Theory’s investor pitch day in January 2025. This funding will enable Seatopia to sustain its rapid growth and position itself for a larger Series A later in the year.
“We’ve been experiencing double-digit monthly growth and believe this additional time will allow us to attract even greater impact-driven and aquaculture-focused institutional investors for our Series A,” says James Arthur Smith, Founder and CEO. “Our goal is to help evolve global aquaculture production away from commodity feeds toward cleaner, more nutritious solutions that benefit both consumers and the environment.”
The Trusted Label for Clean Seafood
Leveraging its bridge round and Braid Theory’s guidance, Seatopia is accelerating multiple strategic initiatives to strengthen its market position and deepen consumer engagement:
- Launch of West Coast 3PL
- Streamline distribution and reduce overhead with a West Coast Third-Party Logistics provider.
- Improve margins and enable faster, more reliable shipping.
- Enhanced Member Cooking Classes
- Deepen relationships with subscribers through one-on-one culinary sessions.
- Provide chef tips for easy gourmet meals.
- Help customers integrate premium seafood into healthy meal plans.
- Diversify D2C Acquisition Channels
- Expand direct-to-consumer marketing strategies.
- Collaborate with functional medicine experts and nutritionists.
- Engage health-conscious consumers who value transparency and superior nutrition.
Building a Brand—and a Moat
Beyond e-commerce, Seatopia is cultivating superfans through education, accessibility, and an unwavering focus on clean, nutritious seafood.
Vision: “Seatopia will be the most trusted (and most influential) seafood brand in the world.”
Upstream Incentives for Higher-Quality Seafood
In parallel, Seatopia is exploring how larger purchasing commitments and upfront contract terms can encourage upstream aquaculture partners to adopt more sustainable feed sources. While microalgae-based feeds can cost up to 30% more than corn or soy, they offer significantly higher omega-3 levels, natural astaxanthin, and antioxidants—leading to improved fish growth and higher survival rates. With additional capital from its upcoming Series A, Seatopia intends to scale these incentives, reducing financial risk for farmers by serving as a reliable buyer and accelerating the industry’s transition away from commodity feedstocks. By aligning profitability with environmental responsibility, Seatopia not only delivers a healthier final product to consumers but also fosters more resilient, high-value aquaculture practices worldwide.
A Bright Future in Regenerative Aquaculture
As the demand for high-quality, traceable seafood grows, the companies that embrace transparency, responsible practices, and regenerative aquaculture will define the future of the industry. Seatopia isn’t just responding to a trend; it’s setting the pace for a global shift toward sustainable and transparent seafood consumption. By consistently elevating standards and advocating for a clearer, healthier future, Seatopia is not merely a participant in the seafood industry but a catalyst for its long-term evolution. As it enters its next phase of growth, Seatopia remains committed to its vision of a world where consumers no longer have to guess about the quality of their seafood, ensuring that every bite is as trustworthy as it is delicious.
Author Contact
Hannah Ponce
Assistant Community Manager
