We are leading sustainable growth and innovation in aquaculture

Alex Lajtos has an MSc in International Business and Management from the University of Manchester (UK). Despite his economics and business background, already for 4+ years Alex has been working in business intelligence and analytics. He worked on 30+ data related projects for a wide range of industries and all kinds of stakeholders from line managers to C-level executives. Alex is specialized in data visualization, data modeling, and enterprise business intelligence architectures but he also aspires to keep up with the hottest data trends such as IoT, cloud solutions, and the boundaries of data science, which have the potential to revolutionize the aquaculture industry too.

Barry is our Chief Financial Officer here at Hatch. Responsibilities include all aspects of Financial Management. Barry's role covers accounting & controls, financial planning, tax, treasury, investor relations as well as providing strategic direction to the group. Barry brings over 15 years experience in a wide range of industries and prior to joining was VP, Accounting at Poppulo.

Caitriona is a positive agitator with a passion for developing early stage entrepreneurs leveraging her studies in Finance, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Ventures and industry experience in Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, Financial Services and Venture Capital.

Carsten holds a Ph.D. in aquaculture nutrition from the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling. He is well versed in both scientific research and investments. Carsten transitioned from a technical analyst role to founding Alimentos Ventures in 2016 and co-founding Hatch Blue, the world's first aquaculture accelerator, in 2017​. As Managing Partner, Carsten oversees Hatch Blue’s investment activities as Managing Partner.

Doug is a Community Manager at Hatch Blue, responsible for Atlantic Canada. Born, educated, and having lived most of his life in the region, Doug enjoys his role. He has had an extensive career in community economic development and international trade in Atlantic Canada, bringing this wealth of knowledge and experience to Hatch Blue. He is committed to facilitating the commercial development success of firms in the sustainable aquaculture space so they can reach their full potential by optimizing their approach to international market development.

Emma Barbier has recently joined The Fish Site as a Junior Editor, bringing a background in marine science and aquaculture. Her experience includes research at the Institute of Marine Research in Norway and industry work with BioMar France, where she liaised between the different departments involved with the hatchery feed range. She holds an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Aquaculture, awarded jointly by institutions in France, Greece, and the UK, as well as a BSc in Marine Biology from the University of Melbourne. Before beginning her academic journey, she worked with a marine eco-tourism company in South Africa and as an equestrian guide in Patagonia. In her new role, she hopes to communicate aquaculture news and science in an engaging and accessible way for a wide range of stakeholders, while exploring the diverse and compelling stories the industry has to offer.

Georg is a molecular biotechnologist by training, with expertise in synthetic biology. He holds a Masters in Management from London Business School and biofuels research experiences from Harvard Medical School. Georg founded a renewable energy company in Ghana in 2015 and co-founded Hatch Blue in 2017.

Goncalo Santos has a diverse background in aquaculture, productionsystems and nutrition having worked globally in multiple markets andAs Head of Projects at Hatch Innovation services, he leads several international projectsranging from market, technical and business assessments and due diligence. With 20 yearsexperience in the sector he has also held pivotal roles at Cargill Aqua Nutrition and Biomin,showcasing expertise in aquaculture R&D and technical management and businessdevelopment. Goncalo holds an MSc in Animal Sciences and Aquaculture from WageningenUniversity & Research, The Netherland and a Biotechnology licentiate degree from NOVAUniversity of Lisbon, Portugal.

Inken works as Project Analyst at Hatch Innovation Services. She has a strong academic background in aquaculture research, with expertise spanning both cold- and warm-water species. She holds a doctoral degree in Natural Science (Dr.rer.nat) and has gained valuable experience working at various international research institutions. At HIS, she specialises in in-depth analysis of key technology and innovation trends within the aquaculture industry. Her expertise spans a wide range of projects, from seaweed to salmon aquaculture, where she supports innovation reports, market analysis, due diligence, and IP evaluation.

Jess holds a PhD in blue growth and marine innovation from the University College Cork, she is a blue economy specialist with a diverse skillset applicable to regional marine economic development of existing and emerging marine sectors, and internationalization. Jess is using her passion for sustainable development of marine development to support aquatech ecosystem development in Ireland. Jess is the community manager for Ireland, she works closely with the aquatech development team at Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), and her primary role is to nurture and support the development of the Irish aquatech ecosystem. This role includes the delivery of the annual innovation studio and the annual community day, and activities associated with that including community outreach, media engagement, continuous support for the companies that have gone through the innovation studio previously, etc.

Karlotta is a project manager for seaweed and other regenerative aquaculture related topics and brings hands-on field experience with several aquaculture species. In 2022, Karlotta traveled to the main seaweed-producing regions in East and Southeast Asia and developed Hatch’s Seaweed Insights Platform. She co-authored a World Bank Group commissioned report on new and emerging markets for seaweed and has since been supporting the growing seaweed sector with original industry intelligence. With a Masters in organisational innovation and entrepreneurship she has also been involved in several aquaculture innovation ecosystem building projects in different regions. With her base in Baja California Sur, Mexico she is especially dedicated to advance the sustainable aquaculture sector in Latin America.

Katie has recently joined the Hatch Blue team as an accounts assistant. With five years of experience in the finance industry, Katie has developed a strong foundation in financial operations and billing systems. Having previously worked with a global company, Katie brings strong skills in financial data management, focusing on processing transactions, optimising billing processes and enhancing workflows. Gathering experience in a past company merger project, which focused on data integration to streamline financial systems and ensure a smooth transition. This experience involved collaborating with cross functional teams to integrate financial data, reconcile discrepancies, and align systems to drive operational efficiency. In addition to hands-on experience in finance, Katie holds a degree in Tourism and Business Management which provides a unique perspective on combining financial knowledge with business insight.

Leah Davis is a Program Associate with a diverse background in project management, investments, and event coordination. She previously worked as a Project Manager at M&G Investments in London and holds a BSc in Psychology from Queen Mary University of London, where she focused on neuroscience, genomics, evolution, and behaviour. Her dissertation explored the anxiolytic effects of CBD oil on zebrafish larvae. Most recently, Leah travelled through South America, volunteering with marine conservation organisations and pursuing her passion for the ocean through environmental storytelling. Now based in London, she supports the delivery of Hatch Blue’s global innovation programs and is driven by a commitment to connect purpose-led founders with the resources they need to thrive in the blue economy.

Linda has dedicated each step of her career from The Nature Conservancy to Morgan Stanley to connect capital with nature. As the Associate at Blue Revolution Fund, she’s applying her interdisciplinary skills towards market-based sustainable seafood transition. Linda is also the author of bi-weekly aquaculture deal newsletter aquablurb.

Margaret is an ACA qualified Finance Manager at Hatch Blue with responsibilities over financial reporting, financial planning, regulatory compliance and tax across the Hatch group.

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Martin, Knowledge Coordinator at Hatch Blue, is dedicated to expanding Hatch's knowledge tools and enabling a culture of knowledge sharing. Leveraging his expertise in data management, technology, and food business, he is committed to organizing and recording Hatch's knowledge tools to facilitate access and collaboration across business units. Martin works on system administration, system implementation, automation and provides technical support across the organisation.

Niclas Riecken is a Project Analyst at Hatch Innovation Services. He is focussed at HIS on sustainable and restorative aquaculture development. Through his background in the Food Industry and work experience in the sustainable finance sector he brings a diverse range of experience to support different stakeholders in their decision making. With an academic background in finance and management with a focus on development economics and seaweed farming he is passionate about the intersection of development and restorative aquaculture.

Nitzan is a Marine Biologist with 15 years in the aquaculture and marine conservation sectors. He has an extensive background in Project Management and Business Development in various complex international environments, from initial planning to final delivery. Managed and developed several global aquaculture, agriculture, and startup investment projects. Nitzan is an Aquaculture Expert with hands-on experience across the entire seafood value chain, specialising in RAS technology design and production, marine and freshwater fish Hatchery & grow-out, broodstock management, R&D, Seaweed & Algae, sustainability practices, fish health, marketing, advanced technologies, and data management.

Peter Green is a seaweed and blue carbon project manager and advisor at Hatch Innovation Services. He specialises in guiding investors on seaweed and blue carbon opportunities and has developed key initiatives like The World Bank’s "Global Seaweed New and Emerging Markets Report 2023." With a degree in Biochemistry and a background in algae-based biomanufacturing, Peter has spent years supporting and building start-ups in the blue economy and regularly provides market insights to thousands of investors, buyers, technologists, operators, and academics through his content.

Shamim Wasii Nyanda is a Tanzanian ocean-climate advocate and entrepreneur passionate about advancing women-led innovation and building resilient blue food systems in Africa. She is the founder of the Tanzania Ocean Climate Innovation Hub, endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, which supports locally led adaptation and ocean-climate solutions. Shamim is also the co-founder of SUNWAVE Limited, a blue-tech startup providing solar-powered cold storage for small-scale fishers to reduce post-harvest loss and strengthen livelihoods. She previously served as CEO of AfriCraft NGO, where she led sustainability initiatives with GIZ and the German Embassy. An alumna of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) on Climate Crisis, Shamim brings a strong background in community engagement, climate advocacy, and project management. Her expertise lies in bridging grassroots innovation with global policy, empowering women and youth to lead in Africa’s ocean and blue food systems.

Sol has extensive experience in impact consulting and impact investing. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Studies from University of Richmond. Sol lived in 8 countries across 4 continents.

Sophia Sperandeo de Macedo is a finance professional with a strong focus on sustainable finance and impact investments. She holds an MSc in Finance from Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, Portugal, where she specialized in development economics, sustainability evaluation, and impact investment strategies. She also earned a BA in Individualized Studies from NYU, focusing on social sciences, media, and political narratives.

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Sophia's professional journey spans roles in Berlin, Lisbon, and São Paulo. She is currently a VC Analyst at Hatch Blue, where she supports investments in sustainable ventures. Previously, she worked as a Founder’s Associate Intern at KoRo, contributing to strategic initiatives, and as an Investment Analyst at Apex Capital, focusing on deal sourcing and due diligence. At Ânima Educação, Sophia managed investor relations and ESG reporting, solidifying her expertise in stakeholder engagement. Multilingual and globally minded, she is committed to fostering impactful financial solutions.

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Tanja Hoel has a MSc in Marine Biology with an Executive Masters from The Norwegian Business School. Tanja has worked in the aquaculture industry for 20 years with innovation, R & D and technology development in the salmon farming industry. She founded a National Centres of Expertise, The Seafood Innovation Cluster together with Norway's leading salmon farming companies. Tanja has founded several companies to support innovation and technology development in aquaculture, including AquaCloud, a cloud-based AI platform to accelerate digitalisation in the salmon industry. She has extensive knowledge working with the public and private sector to secure a sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. Hoel holds several board positions working with commercialisation of innovation and new technology in the global aquaculture industry.

Vy is a Project Analyst with a proven track record in data analysis, market research, and strategic advisory. She specializes in synthesizing complex data into actionable strategies that accelerate growth and drive sustainable innovation. Vy believes that actively engaging and communicating with stakeholders is critical to moving beyond raw numbers and uncovering qualitative insights that drive the strategic process. Her expertise supports senior management and boards in making informed decisions, drawn from her experience across the energy, healthcare, and digitalization sectors. She holds an MSc in Business, majoring in Leadership and Change, from BI Norwegian Business School.

Wayne Murphy is a business leader and entrepreneur with expertise in startup development, aquaculture innovation, and strategic program delivery. Holding an HDip in Business Management & Strategy from IT Carlow, he is also a certified coach and trainer with 15 years of experience in financial services and investment. As Co-founder and Managing Partner of Hatch, Wayne developed the world’s first aquaculture accelerator, delivering programs across Asia, Africa, the US, and Europe.