About Us.

Our Purpose.

Founded by Jack Oyugi and Dr Jez Lofts, our purpose is ‘to provide the planet protein that is clean, safe, healthy, and sustainable for future generations’. – it’s that simple.

And so as demand for protein grows and pressure on natural resources increases, Vertical Lake’s aquaculture platform is designed to produce protein efficiently within a circular, resource-conscious framework.

Our Development Journey

With a UK HQ, Vertical Lake has been developed through practical deployment and continuous refinement, with operations established in Kenya.

Our system continues to evolve through testing and optimisation, with a focus on stable performance and scalable design.

Through this innovation, in 2025, we were thrilled to be nominated for the largest sustainability recognition on the planet, the EarthShot prize.

Two Vertical Lake co-founders wearing safety helmets taking a selfie inside Vertical Lake facility based in Kenya.
Three people smiling and leaning on a blue railing during a fish farming inspection, with water and some fish below, under a metal structure.

The Team Making Real Impact.

The development of Vertical Lake was guided by a consistent set of principles:

01
Be Circular & Sustainable

02
Water Stewardship

03
Promote Regeneration & Organic practices

04
Maintain 100% Traceability

05
Ensure Biological Integrity

Meet the Team.

  • CEO of company is Jack Oyugi

    Jack Oyugi

    Co-FOUNDER, CEO, Technical lead

  • A middle-aged man with short dark hair and a slight smile stands indoors at an event, wearing a dark blazer over a white shirt.

    Jez (Jeremy) Lofts

    Co-FOUNDER, Exec Chair, Commercial Lead

  • A middle-aged man with light skin, short light brown hair, and blue eyes, smiling and wearing a white shirt and a dark suit jacket against a plain light-colored background.

    Ian McEwan

    CFO

  • A young woman wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt taking a selfie against a pale pink background.

    Wendy Cynthia

    Operations & BD Lead

  • A man smiling outdoors with a tree and cloudy sky in the background.

    Nick Vilelle

    Board Advisor

  • A young man with short hair and a slight beard wears a light blue shirt and looks directly at the camera. The background is a plain wall and part of an indoor setting.

    Jephters Olwero

    Board Advisor - Medical Applications

People & Partners helping us move forwards.

Logo of Equity Group Foundation with a stylized red and black arrow and the word 'EQUITY' in bold black letters.
Royal Academy of Engineering logo on a black background
Logo for Manufacturing Africa with an outline of the African continent and a UK flag, along with the words 'UK International Development' and the motto 'Partnership Progress Prosperity'.
Text reading 'The Earthshot Prize' in dark green font on a white background.
Greenspoon (Kenya) organic food company logo with green text.

Contact Us

We can’t wait to hear from you!