nextProtein is a technology company.
nextProtein has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round.
nextProtein has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
nextProtein has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
nextProtein's investors include 10100, Ambridge Capital, McRock Capital, Oyster Ventures, SNR, Y Combinator, Greg Brockman.
nextProtein is a biotechnology company specializing in sustainable insect-based protein production for animal feed, using Black Soldier Fly larvae raised on organic waste to create high-yield alternatives to traditional sources like soy or fishmeal.[1][2][3] It serves the aquaculture, poultry, pork, livestock, and pet food industries by producing nextMeal (protein powder), lipid products for nutrition, and nextGrow (natural fertilizer from frass), solving resource scarcity, food waste, and high-carbon agriculture while achieving EU approval for key markets.[1][2][4] With operations scaling in Tunisia and France, the company raised €10.2M in Series A (2020) and €18M in Series B (2025) to hit 100,000 metric tons annually by 2025—about 10% of the global insect protein market—demonstrating strong growth momentum amid rising demand for circular economy solutions.[4][5]
nextProtein was founded in 2015 by Syrine Chaalala, an Emergency Operations Specialist at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, and Mohamed Gastli, a Grammy-nominated chemical engineer, who started in a garage in 2014 to blend natural cycles with technology for sustainable protein.[1][3][6] Driven by personal ambitions to address land scarcity for a growing population—producing protein from 100m² equivalent to 100 hectares of soy—they focused on Black Soldier Fly bioconversion of unconsumed food waste.[1][3] Early traction included EU approval for aquaculture and pet food, production ramp-up to one tonne per day, and high-profile investor backing, with facilities in France and Tunisia.[1][3][4] A 2025 report notes a refounding narrative by Claire Van Enk, Anouk Boertien, and Zara Benosa in 2021, but primary sources confirm the 2015 origins with Chaalala and Gastli.[5]
nextProtein rides the sustainable protein trend in AgTech and GreenTech, addressing a 70% food production increase needed by 2050 amid one-third global waste, overfished oceans, and soy-driven deforestation.[1][3][4] Timing aligns with EU regulations favoring insect proteins, circular economy pushes, and investor interest—€28M+ raised—positioning it against challenges like cultural resistance via automation, AI optimization, and biotech for cost-competitive scale.[2][4][5] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering waste upcycling, reducing aquaculture's wild fish reliance (a fast-growing sector), and inspiring peers in insect farming, potentially capturing 10% of the insect protein market by 2025.[2][4]
nextProtein is poised for explosive growth with its €18M Series B fueling the massive Tunisia facility, targeting commercial ramp-up in 18-24 months to produce thousands of tons and challenge commodity feeds on price and quality.[5] Trends like AI-driven efficiency, vertical farming, and regulatory tailwinds for alternative proteins will accelerate adoption, though scaling operations and allergy concerns remain hurdles.[2] Its influence could evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem leader, revolutionizing animal feed and sustainable agriculture—proving insects can feed the world without ravaging it, much like its founders' garage origins scaled to global impact.[1][5]
nextProtein has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in January 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2017 | $1.0M Seed | 10100, Ambridge Capital, McRock Capital, Oyster Ventures, SNR, Y Combinator, Greg Brockman |