Chirps
Chirps is a privately held, San Francisco-based CPG company founded in 2013 that sells cricket-based snack chips, powders, cookie mixes, supplements, apparel, and children's books directly to consumers online and through wholesale and retail channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chirps does
Chirps (legal entity Six Foods, LLC) is a San Francisco-based consumer packaged goods company founded in 2013 by three women co-founders — Laura, Meryl, and a third unnamed partner — after formative experiences eating insects while studying abroad. The company produces cricket-based food products built around 100% pure cricket powder made from roasted and milled Acheta Domesticus crickets sourced from Thai farms that raise insects for human consumption under FDA guidelines. Its product portfolio spans Chirps Cricket Chips, a 4oz consumer cricket powder, an 11lb wholesale cricket powder SKU, a Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix, a Cricket Protein Powder supplement, branded apparel, and the "Eat Bugs" children's book series. The company also markets hard nutritional and sustainability comparisons against potato chips and beef.
Chirps monetizes through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on a Shopify storefront (eatchirps.com), a wholesale channel serving bakeries and food service operators, and physical retail stores listed via a store locator, with international shipping available. Pricing is unit-based across SKUs ranging from $14.99 for books to $199.99 for wholesale 11lb powder bags; U.S. shipping is $5 with free shipping above $35. Marketing emphasizes education (extensive FAQ and "Why Crickets" content), sustainability messaging (lower water, feed, and emissions versus beef), Shark Tank / Mark Cuban credibility, and organic social media across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The company appeared on Shark Tank in 2016 and secured an investment from Mark Cuban, an event it leverages as its primary brand credential. It is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding rounds beyond the Shark Tank deal, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Ownership remains founder-led with no public information on Cuban's equity stake or subsequent capital raises.
Chirps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chirps
- Legal name
- Six Foods, LLC
- Website
- https://eatchirps.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Chirps is a privately held, San Francisco-based CPG company founded in 2013 that sells cricket-based snack chips, powders, cookie mixes, supplements, apparel, and children's books directly to consumers online and through wholesale and retail channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chirps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Edible Insect Snacks
- NAICS
- Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate (311352)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insect Protein Ingredients (Cricket, Black Soldier Fly, Mealworm) (AFAJAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Snacks & Bars Manufacturing (High-Protein, High-Fiber, Probiotic Snacks) (AFAKAJAG), Functional Foods & Supplement Formats (Gummies, Chews, Powders, Shots) (CRADAGAI)
Keywords
Where Chirps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chirps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Consumer Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of cricket-based snacks, baking products, protein powders, apparel, and books through their e-commerce storefront and physical retail locations.
- Wholesale Distribution: Bulk wholesale sales of cricket powder (11lb bags at $199.99) and wholesale rates for retail store distribution of their product line.
- Cookie Mixes: Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix sold at $17.99 (currently $16.99 on sale), includes cricket baking mix, chocolate chips, and sugars.
- Cricket Powder Products: 4oz cricket powder at $19.99, 11lb wholesale option at $199.99. Single serving contains more iron than spinach, all 9 essential amino acids, and more B12 than salmon.
- Children's Books: Eat Bugs book series (Project Startup Book 1 and Pitch Partners Book 2) inspired by the true story of creating Chirps, targeted at young entrepreneurs.
- Apparel: Branded merchandise including t-shirts ($22.00) featuring the Eat Bugs messaging.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cricket Powder 4oz |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cricket Powder 11lb Wholesale |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eat Bugs Bundle (Books 1 & 2) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eat Bugs: Project Startup Book 1 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eat Bugs: Pitch Partners Book 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eat Bugs T-Shirt |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Chirps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chirps manufactures and sells cricket-based food products made from 100% pure cricket powder derived from roasted and milled crickets (Acheta Domesticus) sourced from Thai farms. Its product line includes Chirps Cricket Chips, Cricket Powder (4oz consumer and 11lb wholesale), Cricket Protein Powder, Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix, branded apparel (Eat Bugs t-shirt), and the Eat Bugs children's book series. The company sells direct-to-consumer via eatchirps.com, through wholesale distribution, and via physical retail stores.
Product overview
Chirps is a food company founded by three women that produces cricket-based snack foods and ingredients. The core product line includes Chirps Cricket Chips (chips made with cricket flour), Cricket Powder (available in 4oz consumer and 11lb wholesale sizes), Cricket Protein Powder supplements, and a Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix. All products are crafted with 100% pure cricket powder made from roasted and milled crickets sourced from Thailand. The portfolio also includes branded apparel (t-shirts) and the Eat Bugs book series for children. Chirps appeared on Shark Tank and secured a deal with Mark Cuban.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Eat Bugs: Children's book series inspired by the true story of creating Chirps, featuring characters Hallie and Jaye as sixth-grade entrepreneurs saving the world one bug at a time. Includes 'Project Startup' (Book #1) and 'Pitch Partners' (Book #2).
Products and services
- Chirps Cricket Chips Snack chips made with cricket flour; soy, grain, and gluten free, non-GMO, high protein alternative to traditional potato chips. Designed for health-conscious and environmentally conscious consumers, including children.
- Chirps Cricket Powder (4oz) 100% pure cricket powder made from roasted and milled crickets (Acheta Domesticus) for use in baking and smoothies. Gluten-free, grain-free, wheat-free, soy-free, whey-free, non-GMO, all natural.
- Chirps Cricket Powder 11lb (Wholesale) Bulk cricket powder (11lb bag at $199.99) for commercial bakers, food service, and wholesale buyers. Contains more iron than spinach, all 9 essential amino acids, and more B12 than salmon.
- Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix Baking mix combining cricket flour with wheat flour and oat flour, semisweet chocolate chips, and spices. Makes 15 large cookies or 50 mini cookies per package. Free of soy, whey, and GMOs; contains gluten.
- Chirps Cricket Protein Powder Cricket-based protein powder supplement intended for use in smoothies and protein shakes as a sustainable protein source.
- Eat Bugs Short-Sleeve Unisex T-Shirt 100% ring-spun cotton t-shirt featuring Eat Bugs messaging, available in Black, Navy, and Dark Heather colors in sizes S-XL. Produced on-demand to reduce overproduction.
- Eat Bugs: Project Startup (Book #1) Signed Copy Signed children's book about two sixth-grade entrepreneurs on a mission to save the world using bugs, inspired by the true story of creating Chirps. Targeted at young entrepreneurs.
- Eat Bugs: Pitch Partners (Book #2) Signed Copy Signed second book in the Eat Bugs series continuing the entrepreneurial adventures of Hallie and Jaye, with custom dedications available.
- Eat Bugs Bundle (Books #1 & #2) Signed Copy Bundle of both Eat Bugs books (Project Startup and Pitch Partners) at a discounted price. Includes signed copies with optional custom dedications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4g protein and 7g fat per serving vs Lays Potato Chips (1g protein, 10g fat)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Chirps
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chirps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Chirps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chirps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Exo (Exo Inc.): Founders of the cricket protein bar category in the US; directly competed with Chirps in cricket-based consumer food products before being acquired by Quest Nutrition. Most comparable direct competitor in the Western edible insect CPG space.
- Eat Grub: UK-based cricket and insect food brand offering cricket powder, bars, and snacks to mainstream consumers. A direct competitor with the same DTC-plus-retail playbook aimed at normalizing edible insects in Western markets.
- Jimini's: French edible insect brand selling cricket and mealworm-based snacks, powders, and ingredients across European retail. Direct competitor with a similar positioning around sustainability and health-forward insect protein.
- Cricket Flours Ltd: UK-based cricket flour brand focusing on whole and milled cricket powder for home bakers and food manufacturers. Directly comparable as a cricket ingredient-first brand with a similar DTC and B2B go-to-market.
- Bug Vivant: US-based edible insect snack brand offering cricket-based chips and popcorn with retail and DTC distribution. Closely comparable as a cricket focus competing for the same sustainable-snack shelf space.
Emerging players
- Hoppy Planet Foods: US-based cricket-based snack company producing chips and crackers with cricket protein. Comparable business model and product format to Chirps, though at a smaller scale.
Broad incumbents
- Entomo Farms: North America's largest cricket farming operation supplying bulk cricket powder to food manufacturers and consumer brands. Comparable as a cricket protein supplier and potential upstream competitor or partner for Chirps.
- Aspire Food Group: Vertically integrated cricket farming and processing company producing cricket protein for human food and pet food. Comparable as a cricket ingredient supplier with broader operations across the value chain than Chirps.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chirps social profiles
Digital presenceChirps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chirps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Chirps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chirps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chirps
What does Chirps do?
Chirps manufactures and sells cricket-based food products made from 100% pure cricket powder derived from roasted and milled crickets (Acheta Domesticus) sourced from Thai farms. Its product line includes Chirps Cricket Chips, Cricket Powder (4oz consumer and 11lb wholesale), Cricket Protein Powder, Chocolate Chirp Cookie Mix, branded apparel (Eat Bugs t-shirt), and the Eat Bugs children's book series. The company sells direct-to-consumer via eatchirps.com, through wholesale distribution, and via physical retail stores.
Is Chirps a public or private company?
Chirps is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Chirps founded?
Chirps was founded in 2013.
Where is Chirps based?
Chirps is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chirps make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Consumer Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution, cookie Mixes, cricket Powder Products, children's Books and apparel.
Who are Chirps's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Exo (Exo Inc.), Eat Grub, Jimini's, Cricket Flours Ltd and Bug Vivant. Hoppy Planet Foods is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Entomo Farms and Aspire Food Group.
Does Chirps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chirps.
What industry is Chirps in?
Chirps's product category is Edible Insect Snacks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAG, Insect Protein Ingredients (Cricket, Black Soldier Fly, Mealworm), with a secondary code of AFAKAJAG, Functional Snacks & Bars Manufacturing (High-Protein, High-Fiber, Probiotic Snacks). Its NAICS code is 31135 and its SIC code is 2000.