Founders Fund Backs Shinkei Systems' Robot for Humane Fish Slaughter
Tags AI · Infrastructure · Consumer
Founders Fund invested in Shinkei Systems, which makes Poseidon — a refrigerator-sized robot that uses computer vision to instantly kill fish humanely on boats. The robot identifies species, locates the brain, pierces it, and severs the gills using an automated version of the Japanese ike jime technique. The process extends fish shelf life from 5-7 days to 12-14 days. Shinkei gives Poseidon to fishermen for free, pays premium prices, and takes full possession of the catch. The company processes fish at a 16,000 square foot plant in Tacoma, Washington, and sells under the consumer brand Seremoni.
Technical significance
Shinkei's model — giving away the robot and monetizing the premium supply chain — is an unusual go-to-market strategy for robotics startups. The ability to extend shelf life by 2x has significant implications for seafood supply chains, potentially enabling re-shoring of processing from China to the US. The claimed link between overseas seafood processing and forced labor adds an ESG dimension to the investment thesis.