Chanzi
Chanzi is a Tanzanian biotechnology company that uses Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert food waste into dried protein for animal feed and organic frass fertiliser, operating five production sites across Tanzania and Kenya and selling B2B to poultry, aquaculture and pet food buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersArusha, Tanzania
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chanzi does
Chanzi is a Tanzanian-headquartered biotechnology company that converts urban food waste into two commercial outputs using Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion: Chanzi Whole, a dried larvae product sold as a sustainable protein ingredient (40% crude protein, 22% crude fat, 4,200 kcal/kg metabolisable energy) for poultry, aquaculture, pig and pet food formulations, and Chanzi Fertiliser, an organic frass by-product sold as nutrient-dense N-P-K soil amendment for flowers, vegetables, fruits and lawns. Its underlying technology stack is proprietary insect-farming know-how — specifically eight years of R&D into Africa-specific Black Soldier Fly breeding, growing and harvesting methods, refined through repeated iteration and data collection cycles. The company operates five production sites across Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania and Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, self-describing as 'Africa's biggest bug business' and processing an average of 377.27 metric tons of waste per month across its operations.
The business model is a direct, asset-heavy insect-protein and frass operation. Chanzi sells Chanzi Whole as a one-time product to animal-feed buyers (poultry, fish, pig, pet food manufacturers) and Chanzi Fertiliser to smallholder and commercial crop farmers; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct from the farm with shipping across Tanzania and via off-take partners for B2B volume. Feedstock supply is structurally anchored through sister company Okota, which channels food waste to Chanzi's facilities, and downstream flow is supported by off-take partner Mama Moto. The company monetizes a circular-economy value chain in which a waste input (food waste) is converted into a higher-value protein output plus a soil-amendment co-product, with claim that BSF produces 2,500x more protein per acre per year than soya while using significantly less water.
Chanzi is privately held and founder-controlled, with co-founder and COO Sune Mushendwa (architect by profession who initiated the BSF R&D) and co-founder and CEO Andrew Wallace (joined 2020 to commercialize and replicate production across East Africa). The firm has assembled an advisory bench that includes Prof Norbert Mencke as Chief Veterinary Advisor, a Sustainability Advisor (Dr Stefan Heinke) and an R&D Advisor (Jon Trimarco), alongside academic R&D ties with Wageningen University, University of Stirling, Aeres University, the Roslin Institute and Beta-Bugs. Strategic and financial backers include WWF-UK, Seek Impact, MTI Investment, FINCA, EightPlus Ventures, P4G Partnerships, WE4F, GIZ, SMEP and the 2025-06-01 AcceliCITY powered by Leading Cities engagement, alongside awards from AB InBev (Better World Award), the Cleanie Awards and the UNDP Growth Stage Impact Ventures programme.
Chanzi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chanzi
- Legal name
- Chanzi Ltd.
- Website
- https://chanzi.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Chanzi is a Tanzanian biotechnology company that uses Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert food waste into dried protein for animal feed and organic frass fertiliser, operating five production sites across Tanzania and Kenya and selling B2B to poultry, aquaculture and pet food buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chanzi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insect Protein / Animal Feed
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insect Farming (Crickets, Mealworms, Black Soldier Fly) (AFAEAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Insect-Based Protein Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Chanzi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arusha
- HQ country
- Tanzania
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices5 records
Markets served
Chanzi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Chanzi Whole (Dried BSF Larvae): Sale of dried Black Soldier Fly larvae as sustainable protein for animal feed, replacing fishmeal and soya
- Chanzi Fertiliser (Frass): Sale of organic by-product (frass) from BSF processing as fertiliser for flowers, vegetables, fruits, lawns
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Chanzi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chanzi operates Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae bioconversion facilities that convert urban food waste into two sellable outputs: dried BSF larvae (Chanzi Whole) sold as a sustainable protein ingredient for animal feed, poultry, aquaculture and pet food, and an organic by-product (Chanzi Fertiliser, also called frass) sold as a nutrient-dense fertiliser and soil conditioner. The company runs five production sites across East Africa and supplies farmers and animal-feed customers in Tanzania and Kenya.
Product overview
Chanzi is a biotechnology company that operates two core products derived from Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) processing. The first product, Chanzi Whole, is dried BSFL sold as a sustainable protein for animal feed, poultry, aquaculture, and pet nutrition. The second product, Chanzi Fertiliser (also called frass or organic fertiliser), is an organic by-product from the larvae processing of food waste, sold as a nutrient-dense fertiliser and soil conditioner. Both products are produced through the same insect farming process that converts food waste into protein and soil amendments, creating a circular economy model. Chanzi also provides chicken feed mix formulations using Chanzi Whole as the protein component for different growth stages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chanzi Whole Dried Black Soldier Fly larvae sold as a sustainable protein ingredient for animal feed, poultry feed mixes, aquaculture and pet food. Contains 40% crude protein, 22% crude fat and 4,200 kcal/kg metabolisable energy, intended as a replacement for fishmeal and soya.
- Chanzi Fertiliser (Frass) Organic fertiliser (frass) produced as a by-product of Black Soldier Fly larvae processing food waste. Contains a nutrient-dense blend of N-P-K and minerals and is sold for use on flowers, vegetables, fruits, lawns and as a soil conditioner.
Quantifiable outcome
- BSF produces 2500x more protein per acre per year than soya
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Chanzi
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chanzi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Chanzi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Aeres UniversityminorR&D partner for Black Soldier Fly research and development activities
- Beta-BugsminorR&D partner in BSF technology development
- University of StirlingminorAcademic R&D partner for BSF research
- Zero Waste ScotlandminorR&D partner focused on waste management innovation
- The Roslin InstituteminorAcademic R&D partner for animal nutrition research
- GIZminorInternational development organisation R&D partner
- KTN (Knowledge Transfer Network)minorUK innovation network partner for knowledge transfer
- University of HannoverminorAcademic R&D partner for BSF research
- Wageningen UniversityminorLeading agricultural university R&D partner
- Moritz GoldminorR&D partner for BSF applications
- APDL - Hybrid PoultryminorPoultry industry R&D partner
- OkotacoreWaste partner providing food waste for BSF processing. Sister company of Chanzi.
- Mama MotominorOff-take partner for product distribution
- WWF-UKcoreStrategic partner for sustainability and environmental impact initiatives
- EfD Africa (Environment for Development)minorEnvironmental research network partner
- WE4F (Water and Energy for Food)coreInnovation partnership for sustainable waste solutions
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chanzi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- InnovaFeed: InnovaFeed is a French insect protein producer using BSF to convert grain by-products into feed for aquaculture, poultry and pet food. It is a broad incumbent in the same BSF protein category with comparable end-use applications and a circular-economy positioning similar to Chanzi's.
- Protix: Protix is a Dutch insect protein industry leader producing BSF-based ingredients for animal feed and pet food at industrial scale. It is a comparable BSF player with overlapping product offering (protein meal, lipids) and target customers (feed manufacturers), but at a much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
- Ÿnsect: Ÿnsect is a French insect protein company producing mealworm-based ingredients for feed and pet food at large industrial scale. It is a broad incumbent in the insect protein category, with overlapping end-use applications (animal feed, plant nutrition) though using a different insect species.
Direct peers
- Bioflytech: Bioflytech is a Spanish BSF producer manufacturing protein meal, oil and frass for animal nutrition and agriculture. It is directly comparable to Chanzi as a BSF bioconversion operator with a dual protein/fertiliser offering and similar customer segmentation in animal feed.
- AgriProtein: AgriProtein is one of the original commercial Black Soldier Fly producers, founded in South Africa and now operating globally. It is directly comparable to Chanzi as a BSF-based animal feed protein producer with similar feedstock (organic waste) and end markets.
- Nutrition Technologies: Nutrition Technologies operates BSF bioconversion facilities in Southeast Asia producing protein meal, oil and frass for animal feed and agriculture. It is directly comparable to Chanzi in terms of tropical-region BSF production, dual protein/fertiliser revenue model, and focus on emerging markets.
- EnviroFlight: EnviroFlight is a US-based BSF producer supplying protein meal and oil for aquaculture, poultry and pet food. It is directly comparable to Chanzi as a BSF protein producer targeting similar animal-feed end markets, though operating in a different regulatory and geographic environment.
Emerging players
- Hexafly: Hexafly is an Irish emerging player producing BSF-based protein and frass for animal feed and fertiliser. It is comparable to Chanzi as a fellow emerging-market BSF operator with a dual protein/fertiliser value proposition, though at an earlier stage and focused on European off-take.
- Entofood: Entofood is a Malaysian BSF producer using food waste as feedstock to produce protein for animal feed. It is an emerging peer to Chanzi in tropical-region BSF production targeting Asian aquaculture and feed markets with a similar circular-economy model.
- Magalarva: Magalarva is an East African BSF start-up emerging in the same regional market as Chanzi. It is an emerging peer that overlaps in geography (East Africa), feedstock (food waste), and product (BSF protein for feed), representing direct regional competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chanzi social profiles
Digital presenceChanzi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chanzi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Chanzi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chanzi 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 Chanzi
What does Chanzi do?
Chanzi operates Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae bioconversion facilities that convert urban food waste into two sellable outputs: dried BSF larvae (Chanzi Whole) sold as a sustainable protein ingredient for animal feed, poultry, aquaculture and pet food, and an organic by-product (Chanzi Fertiliser, also called frass) sold as a nutrient-dense fertiliser and soil conditioner. The company runs five production sites across East Africa and supplies farmers and animal-feed customers in Tanzania and Kenya.
Is Chanzi a public or private company?
Chanzi is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chanzi founded?
Chanzi was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Chanzi based?
Chanzi is headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, in the Africa region.
How does Chanzi make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Chanzi Whole (Dried BSF Larvae) is the primary driver. The others are chanzi Fertiliser (Frass).
Who are Chanzi's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are InnovaFeed, Protix and Ÿnsect. Direct peers are Bioflytech, AgriProtein, Nutrition Technologies and EnviroFlight. Emerging players are Hexafly, Entofood and Magalarva.
Does Chanzi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chanzi.
What industry is Chanzi in?
Chanzi's product category is Insect Protein / Animal Feed. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAIAI, Insect Farming (Crickets, Mealworms, Black Soldier Fly), with a secondary code of AFAKAGAJ, Insect-Based Protein Foods Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 3111 and its SIC code is 2000.