Shinkei Systems Founder Says Company Supplies Fish to Restaurants Holding 50 Michelin Stars

Shinkei Systems founder Saif Khawaja said the company supplies fish to restaurants holding a combined 50 Michelin stars. He also said Japan is importing American-caught fish processed by Shinkei into its own markets. Khawaja spoke at TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event in El Segundo earlier this week alongside Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov.

The conversation focused on the company’s refrigerator-sized Poseidon robot, which fishermen install on boats. The machine uses computer vision to identify species, locate the brain, pierce it, and sever the gills. Shinkei gives the machines to fishermen at no cost and pays a premium for the catch, taking full possession rather than allowing sales at dock auctions.

The fish move to Shinkei’s 16,000-square-foot plant in Tacoma, Washington, where they are processed and sold under the Seremoni brand. Erewhon currently sells Seremoni Grade Miso Black Cod at its Manhattan Beach location as part of a pilot program. Khawaja said a typical catch has a 5-to-7-day shelf life, while Shinkei-processed fish can last 12 to 14 days.

He added that the company has cooked fish three weeks after harvest without issue. He estimated that roughly 18 percent of product is lost to spoilage between dock and store. Shinkei’s newest product is an in-plant sensor system that scans each fish and projects an individual shelf life.

The company describes itself as a vertically integrated harvester and processor using robotics and AI from boat to plate. Founders Fund has invested in Shinkei Systems. Asparouhov said the firm also backs Halter and Ohalo Genetics as part of its interest in food and agriculture companies outside crowded categories.