Sustainable food systems-focused venture fund S2G Ventures announced the launch of a new oceans and seafood strategy, with commitments of up to $100 million. The strategy will be managed by newly hired Managing Directors Kate Danaher and Larsen Mettler.

S2G is a multi-stage venture fund investing across the food, agriculture, oceans and seafood markets, with a mission to catalyze innovation to meet consumer demands for healthy and sustainable food systems. The fund was an early investor in plant-based protein company Beyond Meat. With the new strategy, the firm is seeking to expand its mandate to include a more comprehensive scope across the food system, and affect greater positive long-term social and environmental impact.

The fund’s ocean and seafood strategy will invest in early, venture, and growth stage companies globally across thematic areas including seafood and alternative protein sources, aquaculture and supply chain innovation, traceability/transparency, algae/seaweed, and ecosystem services.

The fund has hired Kate Danaher and Larsen Mettler to manage the new strategy. Chuck Templeton, Managing Director of S2G Ventures, said:

“We are excited to have Kate and Larsen joining our team to lead and launch this strategy. They bring deep experience in working with entrepreneurs and are a great fit with our organization’s culture and commitment to impact.”

Danaher joins S2G from RSF Social Finance, where she served in the role of Chief Lending Officer, responsible for overseeing the organization’s capital deployment strategy to evaluate products, investment sectors, and growth objectives. According to S2G, Danaher is a food and agriculture finance expert, specialized in structuring capital, facilitating syndications and providing wrap around resources to enable businesses to scale while preserving their mission.

Danaher said:

“Joining S2G and building out a new strategy in oceans is very exciting.  I am eager to be able to support some amazing entrepreneurs making real and necessary change in the oceans and seafood space.  Larsen and I will seek out entrepreneurs that are disrupting the value chain of existing incumbents, as well as spin-out opportunities in collaboration with those incumbents.”

Mettler is joining S2G after 4 years as CFO for integrated, fishermen-owned seafood processor Silver Bay Seafoods. Prior to joining Silver Bay, Mettler was a Director at KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he led KeyCorp’s Seafood Investment and Corporate Banking Practice in North America.

Mettler said:

“I look forward to accelerating the growth initiatives our investors and entrepreneurs are looking for from a strategic investment partner. Kate and I bring complementary experience that will help us to be a value-added partner to entrepreneurs looking to build great businesses.  Entrepreneurs in this sector are looking for more than just capital.  Our skillset, in combination with S2G’s value-added toolkit, make us a partner of choice.”