Our Mission

    How it all began

    FINLESS FOUNDERS MICHAEL SELDEN AND BRIAN WYRWAS
    PHOTO CREDIT: JAY FRAM

    In the summer of 2016, college friends and co-founders, Michael Selden and Brian Wyrwas, officially launched Finless Foods as the first ever cell-cultured seafood company. In just a year, they had created the first cell-cultured seafood to ever be eaten. But they didn’t stop there. When they stumbled upon a pretty great plant-based tuna product during R+D, they decided to jump into the plant-based revolution, expanding the company into the alternative seafood company it is today.

    FINLESS FOUNDERS MICHAEL SELDEN AND BRIAN WYRWAS
    PHOTO CREDIT: JAY FRAM

    The "why" that drives us

    After learning about the ever-increasing pressure being placed on our ocean and global fisheries, especially on key species of concern like bluefin tuna, Finless was founded on the single guiding mission — to create a future for seafood where the ocean thrives.

    Tuna as our founding focus

    From the outset, bluefin tuna instinctively was selected as Finless’ first species of focus and priority, both for its historic conservation opportunity and business strategy. Why? It’s pretty simple. Let’s start with the fact that global tuna populations have declined by 60% over the last 50 years and a third of tuna stocks are currently being fished at unsustainable levels. Add to this, the fact that tuna is difficult to aquaculture successfully and viably at scale. The takeaway is clear: we need to diversify how we source seafood and expand market options and alternatives so that we can continue to enjoy the nutritious, craveable dishes that we love, all while ensuring healthy global fisheries that support a thriving ocean.

    Working with the best and brightest in support of a thriving ocean

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    As a mission-driven company, mission is at the heart of everything we do. Finless Foods has created a first-of-its-kind Impact Board to serve as a brain trust of ocean and sustainable seafood experts that inform Finless’ forward-looking business strategy, from product pipeline to stakeholder engagement on Capitol Hill.

    Our ever-growing Impact Board is made up of three respected subject matter experts and veterans from the ocean conservation and seafood communities, representing differing experiences, views, and backgrounds. Mike Sutton helped create the Marine Stewardship Council and has spent over 30 years working with companies, fishermen, and conservation groups to create and foster the sustainable seafood movement. Dick Jones comes from a long line of seafood industry experts in his family and oversaw seafood operations at Whole Foods Market and HEB Grocery. Jack Kittinger has helped establish and currently leads Conservation International’s Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Program and is an esteemed Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Global Futures Laboratory and School of Sustainability. How do we do this, and who do we have in our corner? If you read on you’ll see – Some pretty great minds!
    MEET OUR ADVISORS