ImpacFat expands to Japan with strategic investment from Toyo Seikan and Leave a Nest

ImpacFat, the Singapore food-tech startup that developed the world’s first cell-cultivated omega-3 fish fat, has announced its official expansion into Japan, backed by new strategic investments from several major partners. The move will see the company establish an R&D hub in Tokyo and deepen cross-border collaboration in sustainable food and nutrition technologies.

The announcement was made during a press event at Takanawa Gateway City, where ImpacFat confirmed a service agreement with JR East to set up a shared office and laboratory within the Link Scholar’s Hub (LiSH), one of Japan’s newest innovation ecosystems.

This marks ImpacFat’s first overseas expansion beyond Singapore. By establishing a physical presence in Tokyo, the company said it aimed to accelerate collaboration with Japanese partners, researchers, and ecosystem players in advancing cell-based biotechnology.

Japan, one of the world’s most mature seafood and supplement markets, represents fertile ground for ImpacFat’s next phase of growth. The global omega-3 ingredients market is projected to exceed US$8 billion by 2030, and Japanese consumers are already among the most receptive to marine-based nutrition.

Mandy Hon, CEO & Co-Founder of ImpacFat, said the move reflected a pivotal moment for the company. “Expanding into Japan is a defining moment for ImpacFat. Japan has long been a global leader in food innovation, and we are honored to work alongside Toyo Seikan Group, Leave a Nest, and our other Japanese partners to build a sustainable cultivated food ecosystem,” she said. “By establishing our presence in Takanawa Gateway City, we hope to connect science, innovation, and sustainability to create meaningful impact for both Singapore and Japan.”

The expansion also aligns with national goals in both countries. For Japan, it supports broader ambitions to enhance food security, promote sustainable development, and protect marine biodiversity. For Singapore, it underscores its growing influence in the cultivated food sector, which the government has positioned as a strategic priority.

Amanda Dizon, Regional Director of Enterprise Singapore (Japan), welcomed the collaboration as a sign of deeper bilateral ties. “Today marks not only a milestone for ImpacFat, but also reflects the growing partnership between Singapore and Japan in many areas of innovation, including alternative food technologies,” she said. “We look forward to continuing our support for ImpacFat and to fostering closer ties between both our innovation ecosystems, especially as we approach 2026, which marks the 60th year of bilateral relations between Singapore and Japan.”

Alongside the expansion, ImpacFat announced a new round of strategic investments from Japanese and regional partners. These include Toyo Seikan Group, one of Japan’s leading packaging and materials innovation companies known for its sustainability initiatives; 144 Ventures, the venture capital arm of Leave a Nest Group; and Lin Xiangliang, CEO of Esco Aster, a global contract development and manufacturing organization active in both the biopharma and food-tech sectors.

The combined investment will not only provide financial backing but also offer significant industrial expertise and commercialization pathways. Each partner brings complementary strengths to accelerate ImpacFat’s technology development and market entry.

Takuji Nakamura, President of Toyo Seikan Group, said the company saw strong alignment between its capabilities and ImpacFat’s innovation in functional ingredients derived from fish fat cells. “We believe that ImpacFat’s development of functional ingredients derived from fish fat cells, rich in nutrients such as DHA and EPA, can meet the rising global awareness of food security and the growing demand for healthy and delicious food,” he said. “Toyo Seikan Group will leverage its core technologies in sterilization and moisture/gas barrier to build, together with ImpacFat, a value chain that maximizes the potential of cell-cultured fish fat. With our cross-border ecosystem partners, we aim to accelerate this movement under the concept of ‘refine in Japan, test in Singapore, and launch into the Asian market.’”

Dr Yukihiro Maru, CEO of Leave a Nest Group and parent company of 144 Ventures, said the investment marked the continuation of a long relationship with ImpacFat. “Since our first encounter with Mr. Sugii in 2014, Leave a Nest has consistently supported ImpacFat’s challenges,” he said. “With ImpacFat’s entry into Japan, we have invested as 144 Ventures together with Mr XL Lin of Esco Aster and Toyo Seikan Group to further drive its growth, with LiSH as its base. Looking ahead, we will deepen collaboration between Japan and Singapore and accelerate the commercialization of biotech ventures through the launch of the ‘BioGarage Initiative,’ fostering research, development, and business creation in the biotech field.”

For ImpacFat, these partnerships represent a strategic step toward scaling up production and broadening its applications across food, nutrition, and cosmetics. The company’s proprietary technology uses fish fat stem cells to produce omega-3-rich ingredients, offering a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional fish oil.

By integrating into Japan’s research and industrial ecosystem, ImpacFat intends to position itself at the intersection of biotechnology, sustainability, and premium nutrition. The new Tokyo base will enable the company to co-develop formulations with Japanese partners and test commercialization models across Asia.

The collaboration also symbolizes a broader convergence between Singapore’s biotech expertise and Japan’s advanced industrial capabilities. Both nations, long known for their innovation-driven economies, are now playing key roles in shaping the future of cultivated food systems across Asia.

With new investment, a dedicated R&D footprint in Tokyo, and growing industry support, ImpacFat appears well placed to deliver on its mission: transforming omega-3 production into a cleaner, more sustainable, and scalable enterprise for the next generation of consumers.