leads EUR 8m Series A Round in Nasekomo to Drive Robotized, AI-assisted Insect Bioconversion Expansion
Summary
The investment, led by INVENIO Partners, a private equity fund focusing on the SEE region, alongside several high-net-worth individuals, comes only a month after Nasekomos strategic partnership with Siemens.Nasekomo is primed to leverage this substantial capital infusion to launch an extensive network of cutting-edge insect bioconversion facilities across Europe, with an eye towards expanding onto additional continents in the near future. The first franchised factory, serving as Nasekomos second facility after the successful launch of its industrial demonstration center near the capital Sofia, will also be located in Bulgaria, in partnership with a local entrepreneur, starting operations in 2025.The companys mission is to play a pivotal role in advancing the industrialization of insect farming for high-quality protein production, addressing global protein demand, food access challenges, and sustainability issues in feed production. The founders aspire to pioneer proprietary robotized, AI-assisted technologies that will revolutionize the manufacturing of feed by delivering higher-quality, sustainably produced protein, aligning with the dynamic needs of the global agricultural landscape.Xavier Marcenac, co-founder and co-CEO of Nasekomo, expressed his pride in the companys accomplishments and its strategic partnership with Invenio, stating, We firmly believe that our collaborative efforts will lead to the successful realization of our ambitious vision to accelerate the growth of the insect industry by providing the picks and shovels to newcomers which in our case means genetically selected seed larvae and our end-to-end bioconversion factory technology.Co-founder and co-CEO Marc Bolard added, Our objective is to attain the highest level of process optimization in our upcoming factories through automation, digitization, AI-native solutions, and interconnected machinery.Stanislav Nikolaev, Partner and COO at Invenio Partners, who will become Board Member of Nasekomo, added: The biotech industry, with its inherent sustainability, is well-positioned for rapid and substantial expansion, presenting an exclusive opportunity for investors seeking returns in the realm of sustainable production. INVENIO Partners has experience in promoting and helping companies realize their full potential and enhance their performance by providing growth capital, strategic guidance, and operating support to strong management teams. INVENIO Partners discovers companies with a solid track record and potential for a leadership position in their respective industry with competitive business models and an experienced management team.