Land-Based Aquaculture System Developer ARK Secures Approx. 1.3 Billion Yen in Series A Funding for Global Expansion

Overview of the Funding

ARK Inc. has raised approximately 1.3 billion yen in a Series A funding round. This financing was executed through a combination of equity investments from multiple venture capital firms and corporate investors—including UntroD Capital Japan, Beyond Next Ventures, and BP Capital—along with debt financing from Resona Bank, Hokkoku Bank, and Japan Finance Corporation. The newly acquired funds will be allocated toward strengthening the company's business foundation, advancing technology and product development for its land-based aquaculture systems, developing new aquaculture facilities, and recruiting global talent.

About ARK Inc.

Based in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, ARK is an R&D startup operating under the concept of "Creating small, man-made oceans on land to give the world's oceans a rest." The company designs, develops, and manufactures modular closed-containment land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Beyond producing marine products, ARK is committed to creating new markets. Established in December 2020, the company aims to achieve the "democratization of the fisheries industry" by providing systems that enable the farming of diverse fish species regardless of location.

Purpose of Funding and Future Outlook

With this funding, ARK will accelerate its international expansion, focusing primarily on the Global South. The company is particularly prioritizing demonstration projects in the UAE and Indonesia, and has been selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) FY2024 supplementary subsidy program for "Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Projects." By aiming to build sustainable seafood supply hubs and aligning with the government's growth strategy to promote the food tech sector, ARK plans to further accelerate the social implementation of land-based aquaculture.