nextProtein

What nextProtein does

nextProtein is an industrial biotechnology company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Paris that produces insect-based protein for animal feed through Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae bioconversion. The company's core process breeds BSF larvae on fruit and vegetable organic waste sourced from markets, converting what would otherwise be discarded food into three commercial products: nextProtein, a dry protein powder for aquaculture, pet food, and animal feed; nextOil, a lipid product for aquaculture and animal feed; and nextGrow, a natural fertilizer derived from BSF frass for agricultural use. Production is concentrated in Grombalia, Tunisia, where the company operates an existing 2,500m² facility and is constructing a second, larger facility targeting 12,000 tons of insect-based ingredients annually.

The business model is B2B sales-led, with the company selling ingredients directly to animal feed manufacturers, aquaculture operations, livestock farms, and pet food producers. Pricing is quote-based by volume, with a publicly stated target of €1,000–€1,200 per metric ton for protein — positioning nextProtein at a discount to traditional fishmeal. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; based on a stated current production target of 1 tonne of protein per day, annual revenue at full utilization would be in the low hundreds of thousands of euros from protein alone, with incremental contribution from nextOil and nextGrow. As of the November 2025 Series B, the company has raised approximately $33 million cumulatively across a 2017 seed round (€1.3M), a 2020 round (~$11.2M), and a 2025 Series B ($20.7M) led by SWEN Capital's Blue Ocean Fund and British International Investment.

nextProtein's regulatory position is anchored by EU approval (effective July 2017) to sell insect protein into aquaculture feed, with the company actively pursuing expanded approval for poultry and pork applications. The technology's primary claimed advantages are dramatic land efficiency (output equivalent to 100 hectares of soy from 100m²), lower water and energy use versus traditional protein sources, and a circular-economy feedstock model. Founders Mohamed Gastli (CEO) and Syrine Chaalala (COO) remain operationally involved, with board representation from early investor Cyril Grislain.

Name

nextProtein

Legal name

nextProtein SA

Website

https://nextprotein.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

nextProtein is a Paris-headquartered industrial biotech company that uses Black Soldier Fly larvae bioconversion of organic waste to produce insect-based protein powder, lipid, and fertilizer for B2B sale into aquaculture, livestock, and pet feed markets, with production based in Tunisia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insect-based Animal Feed Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Insect Farming (Crickets, Mealworms, Black Soldier Fly) (AFAEAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Insect Protein Ingredients (Cricket, Black Soldier Fly, Mealworm) (AFAJAHAG)

Keywords

• Insect protein production
• Animal feed ingredients
• Aquaculture feed supply
• Bioconversion technology
• Organic fertilizer manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Insect-based Protein Products: Sale of insect-based protein ingredients (nextProtein dry protein powder, nextOil lipid product) to animal feed manufacturers for aquaculture, livestock, and pet food applications. Revenue generated from product sales to B2B customers in the animal feed industry.
2. Organic Fertilizer: Sale of nextGrow, a natural fertilizer made from Black Soldier Fly frass and organic waste for agricultural use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

nextProtein produces insect-based protein ingredients for animal feed by rearing Black Soldier Fly larvae on fruit and vegetable organic waste through an industrial bioconversion process. The company sells three products to B2B buyers: nextProtein (dry protein powder for aquaculture, pet food, and animal feed), nextOil (lipid for aquaculture and animal feed), and nextGrow (natural fertilizer for agriculture from Black Soldier Fly frass). Production is operated from a 2,500 m² facility in Grombalia, Tunisia, with a new 12,000-ton-capacity facility planned following the November 2025 Series B.

Product overview

nextProtein is an insect-based protein producer offering three core products derived from Black Soldier Fly larvae: nextProtein (a dry protein powder for aquaculture, pet food, and animal feed), nextOil (a lipid product for aquaculture and animal feed), and nextGrow (a natural fertilizer for agriculture). The company converts organic waste into sustainable protein ingredients through bioconversion, with production facilities in Tunisia and operations managed from Paris.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nextProtein: Dry protein powder used as feed ingredient for aquaculture, pet food and other animal feed
• nextOil
• nextGrow

Products and services

• nextProtein A dry protein powder produced from Black Soldier Fly larvae, used as a feed ingredient for aquaculture, pet food, and other animal feed applications. Sold B2B to feed manufacturers.
• nextOil A lipid product extracted from Black Soldier Fly larvae, used as a feed ingredient for aquaculture and other animal feed. Sold B2B to feed manufacturers.
• nextGrow A natural fertilizer made from Black Soldier Fly frass and organic waste, intended for use in agriculture as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Can produce as much protein from 100m² as 100 hectares of soya field
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Climate-KICsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology program supporting climate innovation. nextProtein was an Accelerator participant, gaining access to mentorship, resources, and sustainability-focused innovation network.
• IncuballiancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench business incubator that supported nextProtein during its early growth phase in the Paris-Orsay region.
• Scientipole IDFsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDF (Ile-de-France) innovation and entrepreneurship support organization that provided incubation and support services.
• Réseau Entreprendre TunisiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurship support network in Tunisia that supports the company's Tunisian operations and production facility.
• SupBiotechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis-based engineering school specializing in biotechnology that provides talent pipeline and potential research collaboration opportunities.
• IPIFF (International Platform for Insects for Food and Feed)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association representing the insect protein industry at European level, advocating for regulatory approvals and industry standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ÿnsect: French insect protein producer using mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) for animal feed and pet food; one of the most capitalized players in the European insect protein space with a flagship Amiens facility. Directly comparable business model and target customers as nextProtein.
• InnovaFeed: French insect protein producer using Black Soldier Fly larvae for aquafeed (notably a partnership with Cargill/Aqua Nutrition). Operates a major facility in Nesle, France, making it the closest direct competitor to nextProtein in technology and end markets.
• Protix: Dutch insect protein company using Black Soldier Fly to produce protein, oil, and fertilizer for animal feed and pet food. Comparable bioconversion technology and European market focus, with significant industrial scale already established.
• AgriProtein: South African insect protein pioneer using Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert organic waste into feed protein. Operates in a different geography but uses an identical core technology and targets the same aquaculture/livestock feed markets as nextProtein.

Emerging players

• Entocycle: UK-based Black Soldier Fly insect protein producer focused on animal feed applications. Smaller and earlier-stage than nextProtein but uses the same BSF bioconversion technology and targets overlapping feed industry customers.
• Bioflytech: Spanish insect protein producer using BSF larvae for animal feed ingredients including aquafeed and pet food. Regional European competitor with similar technology stack and target end markets as nextProtein.

Regional players

• Entofood: Malaysian Black Soldier Fly insect protein producer serving Asian aquaculture and animal feed markets. Uses the same core BSF bioconversion technology as nextProtein but operates in a different geography, providing a useful regional benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Skretting (Nutreco): World-leading aquafeed producer and a subsidiary of Nutreco. A potential offtake customer for nextProtein, but also a strategic competitor as it partners with insect protein companies (notably InnovaFeed) and could vertically integrate. Represents the broader incumbent aquafeed value chain.
• Cargill Aqua Nutrition: Global aquafeed division of Cargill and one of the largest buyers of alternative protein ingredients including insect protein. A potential major offtake customer for nextProtein but also has invested in competing insect protein partnerships, making it a critical counterpart for the industry.
• Darling Ingredients: Global rendering and sustainable ingredient producer (including for animal feed) and majority owner of Diamond Pet Foods. A broad incumbent in alternative proteins that competes at the supply level with insect protein producers like nextProtein in feed and pet food markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nextprotein
• Facebookfacebook.com/nextprotein
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextprotein
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextprotein_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors16 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about nextProtein