BettaF!sh - Deniz Ficicoglu

Say hello to Deniz Ficicoglu. She co-runs BettaF!sh, heating up the alternative seafood space with a 100% plant-based tuna made from seaweed and fava beans. The Berlin startup is part of a growing fish-free category that netted $116mn in VC funding last year.    BettaF!sh kicked things off a year ago when they launched their three flagship TU-NAH Sandwiches across 4,000 ALDI stores in Germany. This was the largest launch the alt seafood category had ever experienced. They subsequently launched their next product, Pizza TU-NAH (a rogue choice for British taste buds, but a childhood staple in Germany). Since then, they have expanded their portfolio with more to come in 2023. However, while those of us who’ve watched Seaspiracy will no doubt be cheering them on, for reducing bycatch and overfishing, the jury is still out as to whether plant-based fish will sink or swim.  In this episode we explore their love for seaweed, their vision of becoming a centre for R&D beyond seafood alternatives and the story so far.