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Why Founders Fund Backed a Fish Robotics Startup episode artwork

Jul 28, 2026 22 min

Why Founders Fund Backed a Fish Robotics Startup

from StrictlyVC Download Hosted by Connie Loizos & Alex Gove

Much of American-caught fish is processed overseas, and often in China, before it comes back to the U.S. Shinkei wants to change that with robotics, computer vision, and a vertically integrated supply chain built from scratch. This episode of StrictlyVC Download was recorded at StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026. TechCrunch Editor in Chief Connie Loizos sat down with Saif Khawaja, founder and CEO of Shinkei, and Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund to talk about one of the most unexpected bets in venture capital right now. They cover everything from the Japanese fish-killing technique that became a startup thesis, why American fish is now being imported into Japanese fish markets for the first time ever, and how Founders Fund thinks about contrarian bets in food and agriculture.

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Why Founders Fund Backed a Fish Robotics Startup

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