Cultured Decadence, which makes lobster and crab meat using cell culture and tissue engineering techniques, raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed financing round, the company announced recently.

“The way we engage with animals as a food source needs to change if we are to thrive as a planet,” Cultured Decadence CEO John Pattison said in a statement. “We are pleased to partner with an experienced group of investors that share our vision and are eager to accelerate out technology to bring transformative seafood products to market.”

According to a release, the financing will be used to expand its team and continue the development of cell-cultured lobster meat prototypes in preparation for a commercial launch.

Investors in the round include Bluestein Ventures, Joyance Partners, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and gener8tor, among others. Cultured Decadence also received a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.