Gårdsfisk, a Swedish pioneer in sustainable land-based fish farming, has successfully closed a 50M SEK Series A funding round. The investment was co-led by Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund and Industrifonden. This funding marks a significant milestone in the global shift towards more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient food production.
The global food industry is under pressure to find sustainable solutions that reduce reliance on ocean fisheries and lower carbon footprints. Traditional aquaculture and wild fishing industries have long faced challenges such as overfishing, habitat destruction, and excessive antibiotic use.
A groundbreaking solution for sustainable fish farming
Founded in 2013 by Johan Ljungquist and Mikael Olenmark, Gårdsfisk has developed a vertically integrated recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) that enables land-based fish farming with minimal environmental impact. By working with partner farmers, Gårdsfisk ensures that its high-quality fish, including catfish and trout, are farmed locally and sustainably, providing Swedish consumers with a responsible protein alternative.
“This investment comes at a critical time when the demand for sustainable seafood is growing rapidly,” said Johan Ljungquist, CEO of Gårdsfisk. “With the support of Hatch Blue and Industrifonden, we can scale our operations, develop new products, and bring locally farmed fish to even more consumers. This is a significant step toward reshaping the seafood industry.”
Growth and product development in focus
The new 50M funding will enable Gårdsfisk to accelerate growth by expanding production capacity, increasing brand awareness, and launching new consumer-focused products. The company aims to double its revenue by 2026 while maintaining its commitment to sustainability.
“Gårdsfisk has impressed us with the high quality of their farming system and their product. It is a truly mission-driven organization and their commitment to creating a positive environmental impact aligns perfectly with our mission to change the aquaculture food system.” said Georg Baunach, Managing Partner at Hatch Blue. “I’m very excited to work with Johan, Mikael and the team to support the next phase of commercial growth.”
“Gårdsfisk is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in food production today: how to meet protein demand without depleting natural resources,” said Karolina Bjurehed, Investment Manager at Industrifonden. “Their innovative approach to land-based aquaculture makes them a strong fit for our investment portfolio."
A sustainable future for fish farming
As global demand for sustainable protein increases, Gårdsfisk is well-positioned to lead the transition toward responsible seafood production. Overfishing and unsustainable farming methods have put immense strain on marine ecosystems, making solutions like Gårdsfisk’s closed-loop, land-based systems more critical than ever. The company’s range of products, including smoked catfish, fish meatballs, and trout, is already gaining traction in Sweden as a sustainable alternative to imported seafood.
Novax and LRF Ventures, the largest current external investors, are also supporting this round.
"We are excited to welcome Industrifonden and Hatch on board, and together we look forward to follow Gårdsfisk and the journey towards a healthy ecosystem in the ocean," said Ida Linderbrandt, President at Gårdsfisk and Investment Manager at Novax.
Looking ahead, Gårdsfisk plans to strengthen its presence in Sweden and explore opportunities for international expansion. The company will continue to innovate with new product offerings, ensuring that sustainable fish farming remains both environmentally viable and commercially scalable.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andreas Granath, CMO, Gårdsfisk
andreas@gardsfisk.se
+46 70-140 94 58
Sarah Karner, Marketing Manager, Hatch Blue
sarah@hatch.blue
About Industrifonden
Industrifonden is Sweden’s Venture Capital Fund looking for unique, scalable innovation that has a meaningful impact on our society. Industrifonden manages more than SEK 5 billion and invests in early-stage companies, from seed to A-round funding with a reach across the Nordics. The investment focus includes specialized technologies and businesses within Deep Tech, Life Science and Transformative Tech. Industrifonden has an evergreen structure which allows a long-term focus on value creation.
About Hatch Blue
Hatch Blue, established in 2017, manages the Blue Revolution Fund and specialises in providing specific support for early-stage ventures along the whole value chain of sustainable aquaculture & ocean conservation. Hatch Blue is active in four business areas including fund management, consulting, entrepreneurship programs and media marketing and operates three funds totalling assets under management of over USD 120 million. Since 2017, Hatch has grown to employ over 35 employees, working out of 13 countries, who all align to support its vision: a climate-smart, truly sustainable and just (sea)food transition.
