Fish 2.0’s First-Ever Regional Forum Gives Australian Seafood Businesses & Investors a Rare Opportunity to Form Partnerships, Advance the Industry

Seafood entrepreneurs meet supplier and trade partners; investors and experts hear from investment-ready businesses and industry leaders; top-chef dinner gives a taste of local delicacies

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Fish 2.0, the global community for seafood innovators, is holding its first-ever Regional Innovators Forum April 2–3, 2019, in Brisbane, reflecting Australia’s potential to become the world’s next seafood powerhouse. Australian seafood businesses, investors and experts are invited to participate in the event, which combines pitches from investment-ready businesses, expert discussion of game-changing innovations and other topics, and a seafood dinner created by renowned chef Jake Nicolson.

Pacific Islands businesses will also attend, so participants have the opportunity to meet international partners. In the business workshop on day one, entrepreneurs will learn about investment strategies, communicating value to partners and effective pitching techniques. On day two, they’ll pitch to seafood investors and experts as part of the full-day forum on seafood innovation in the region. Businesses can participate for free but space is limited—they must register online; first come, first served.

“Australia’s seafood sector is well positioned to increase considerably in value and become a recognized innovator in the field. A lot of game-changing innovations are being created here. The missing piece is connections for Australian seafood entrepreneurs with globally minded investors and trade partners that can help them grow more quickly,” says Fish 2.0 Executive Director Monica Jain. “That’s what the Regional Innovators Forum is all about.”

Forum, dinner feature region’s leading lights

On the evening of April 2, Nicolson, of Blackbird Bar & Grill, will prepare a feast of underutilized and regional seafood delicacies, all paired with Queensland wines. The seafood suppliers will be on hand to talk about their products and how they catch or farm them. Businesses participating in the workshop and forum must buy a ticket to the dinner. Investors and experts may purchase tickets to the dinner and forum or just the forum (but not just the dinner).

The regional forum takes place April 3 at The Edge, a creative event space at the State Library of Queensland. Investors and experts who attend will hear pitches from more than 30 investment-ready businesses based in Australia and the South Pacific. They’ll also meet fellow investors and experts in fishing and aquaculture, and learn about the regional seafood market from some of its leading lights.

The forum will also feature onstage discussions with leaders in the field and will cover:

• Value investing in the food sector, with speakers including Dan Fitzgerald, of Pacific BioTechnologies and Small Giants, and Larry Lopez, director of Accelerating Commercialisation (a sponsor of the Fish 2.0 Australia track).
• Game-changing innovations, featuring leaders of commercially scaling businesses in the aquaculture, algae, fish feed and genetics sectors.
• Opportunities to expand seafood value and trade while creating positive community impacts, with speakers including Anne Maree Weston of Austrade and Maurice Brownjohn, commercial manager of Parties to the Nauru Agreement.

Fish 2.0 connects seafood innovators with investors, partners and customers

The Australia track and Regional Innovators Forum are part of Fish 2.0’s comprehensive system for connecting innovators from around the world to grow the sustainable seafood sector. Any eligible business—workshop and forum participants or others—can take Fish 2.0’s two-part online Readiness Assessment. Those that meet the standard become Fish 2.0 Qualified and will be invited to enter the new Fish 2.0 Connect online hub, where they can connect with investors and partners based on mutual interest. Seven cutting-edge Australian businesses have already become Fish 2.0 Qualified this year.

The top-scoring businesses—the Fish 2.0 Forty—will also earn a spot on stage at the Fish 2.0 Global Innovators Forum Nov. 5–6, 2019, at Stanford University in California, where they’ll present to invited investors and experts from across the U.S. and around the world.

At least 75 percent of participants in Fish 2.0 programs have made key business connections, such as investors, new partners or new customers.

Entrepreneurs and investors with questions about Fish 2.0’s Australia track, the Fish 2.0 Readiness Assessment or the 2018–19 Fish 2.0 qualifying cycle can contact Fish 2.0 at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

About Fish 2.0

Fish 2.0 is a global community that brings innovators together to grow the sustainable seafood sector. Working through our worldwide network, regional events, online Readiness Assessment, Fish 2.0 Connect online hub, and Global Innovators Forum, Fish 2.0 participants collaborate to drive innovation, business growth, and positive impact. Everyone benefits: Entrepreneurs meet potential investors, partners, and advisors that help them accelerate impact and growth. Investors and experts get early access to investment opportunities and learn about emerging technologies and trends.

Media contacts

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