Creating a Future for Seafood Where the Ocean Thrives

Our mission is simple

We want to create a future for seafood where the ocean thrives. We work toward this every day by creating delicious, alternative seafood products that help you satisfy your cravings without bait or hook. We are using ground-breaking (or rather ocean-breaking) cell-cultured technology to revolutionize the way the world sources delicious and sustainable food.

Good for us. Good for the ocean.

A platter of assorted sushi rolls with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi, accompanied by a small bowl of seaweed salad and chopsticks.

Our path

The first step in fulfilling our mission is focused on tuna. Why start with tuna? Because — per the UN — tuna is the most consumed and the second most wild-caught fish in the world. As a result, global stocks have faced unrelenting pressure, which challenges their continued sustainability. We believe that finding a delicious alternative to tuna is a way to make a significant difference. Our long-term focus is on bringing cell-cultured seafood to market, starting with bluefin tuna.

Sushi roll with tuna on a white plate, sliced ginger, green onion, soy sauce, chopsticks, and a cup of soy sauce on a wooden table.
Sushi rolls with fish, avocado, and cucumber inside, arranged on a black plate with orange sauce drizzle.

Our Journey

  • Finless Foods is committed to creating a future for seafood where the ocean thrives. Co-Founders Michael Selden and Brian Wyrwas founded the company to create delicious, healthy, and accessible cell-cultured seafood alternatives. Finless Foods offers options for all palates and dietary preferences, providing consumers with a range of responsibly produced food products to diversify their daily habits and pave the way toward a more sustainable future and a healthier ocean.

Leadership

Brandon Chen

Co-Founder & CEO

  • Brandon Chen is the co-founder and CEO of Finless Foods. He previously served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from 2019 to early 2025, leading regulatory submissions, process technology development, and strategic partnerships.

    A lifelong surfer and technologist, Brandon has long been dedicated to using biotechnology to protect planetary health and improve human wellness. Before joining Finless Foods, he worked extensively with bioprocess engineers at Genomatica, where he witnessed the scale-up and commercialization of fermentation-based chemical products. He is also a co-inventor of several IP assets, including anti-cancer drugs synthesized using cell-free technology.

    Brandon values the inherent diversity at Finless Foods, believing that a team comprised of different backgrounds, cultures, and working styles is essential to any company's success.

    In 2026, the Board of Directors recognized Brandon as a co-founder in honor of his foundational contributions to the company. Utilizing his extensive knowledge and technical skillset, Brandon is now charting a new chapter for the company to commercialize sustainable seafood alternatives.

Brian Wyrwas

Co-Founder & CSO

  • Brian Wyrwas is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Finless Foods. Since 2017, he has been the driving force behind the company’s scientific milestones, most notably establishing proprietary cell lines for high-value marine species like Pacific bluefin tuna. Brian oversees all aspects of cell line and culture media development, as well as complex laboratory operations. His pioneering work in cellular agriculture earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Social Impact.

    Brian’s passion for science began at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He viewed research as the ultimate tool for innovation—a way to turn "nothing into something." Following graduation, he joined Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, where he specialized in growing human cells for clinical applications. This role provided him with a unique, holistic perspective on how laboratory breakthroughs translate into real-world patient outcomes.

    In 2016, as Brian was preparing for doctoral studies, a conversation with college friend Michael Selden shifted his career trajectory. After learning about the rapid degradation of ocean ecosystems, Brian committed to the cell-cultured revolution. He and Selden began by identifying the most at-risk fish populations, leading Brian to travel the globe to source premium bluefin cells. This foundational research led to the successful cultivation of the world’s first cell-cultured fish filets and the official launch of Finless Foods.

Michael Selden

Co-Founder & Advisor

  • Michael Selden is the advisor and co-founder of Finless Foods, having served as CEO from 2017 to early 2025. With a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael’s career is rooted in climate justice and science advocacy. His research has spanned global issues, from addressing food crises in Africa to marine conservation in Southeast Asia.

    In 2014, inspired by the synthesis of horseshoe crab blood for vaccines, Michael hypothesized that seafood could similarly be produced without harvesting fish. Alongside college friend and co-founder Brian Wyras, he developed the concept for what would become a pioneer in cellular agriculture. By 2017, Finless Foods produced the first cell-cultured fish meat ever consumed by a person. This innovation secured $3.5 million in seed funding and earned Michael and Brian a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for social impact in 2021.

    Beyond his professional commitment to ocean sustainability, Michael is an avid musician and audio engineer. He plays the bass guitar and drums, and even built his own modular synthesizer. A fan of political economy and science fiction, Michael currently lives in the Bay Area with his wife and bulldog, Roscoe the Pig.

Contact Us

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