What Protei.co does

Protei.co is an Estonian B2B supplier of sustainable proteins derived from two technological platforms: entomological production using black soldier fly larvae, crickets, and mealworms, and methanotrophic fermentation that converts methane into single-cell protein. The company targets feed manufacturers, pet-food producers, aquaculture operators, and (via a fertilizer by-product) agricultural buyers across Europe, operating from a Tallinn headquarters with representative offices in Milan, Zurich, and Èze, France.

Its portfolio comprises seven distinct product lines: Protei.coOne (premium BSF larvae meal), Protei.coMono (single-cell fermentation protein), Protei.coSoft (fresh BSF biomass for wet pet food), Protei.coWD (whole-dried insects for poultry and exotic pets), Protei.coLipidi.co (purified insect lipid with 40% lauric acid), Protei.coPro (cricket/larvae powder positioned for human and animal nutrition), and Protei.coFertili.co (organic fertilizer from insect-breeding by-products). The methanotrophic fermentation technology underpinning Protei.coMono is patented, and the company holds EFISC certification with FEDIAF-approved ingredients, providing regulatory positioning for European feed and pet-food markets.

Protei.co sells directly to B2B customers through its sales-led go-to-market, supported by regional representative offices in three European countries. Pricing is quote-based (no public price list), and revenue is generated through one-time product sales. The company claims up to 98% lower water consumption, up to 40% lower CO2 emissions, and up to 2,200 tonnes of protein per hectare versus ~1.7 tonnes of soy, positioning the offering around circular-economy and sustainability credentials rather than cost leadership alone. No revenue, funding, headcount, or named-customer data are disclosed in the available sources.

Name

Protei.co

Legal name

PROTEI.CO OÜ

Website

https://protei.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Estonian B2B supplier of sustainable insect- and fermentation-derived proteins serving feed manufacturers, pet-food producers, aquaculture operators, and agricultural buyers across European markets via direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Animal Feed Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (31111), Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing (311613), Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Novel Proteins (Single-Cell Protein, Cell-Cultured/Animal-Free Proteins) (AFAJAHAL), Insect-Based Protein Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAJ), Alternative Protein & Sustainable Pet Food (insect/plant/cell-based) (CRADAFAI)

Keywords

• Insect protein production
• Sustainable animal feed
• Single cell protein
• Pet food ingredients
• Aquaculture protein

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Protein Product Sales: B2B sales of entomological proteins (Protei.coOne, Protei.coMono, Protei.coSoft, Protei.coWD, Protei.coLipidi.co, Protei.coPro) and fermentation-derived proteins to feed manufacturers, pet-food producers, aquaculture operators, and livestock farmers. Revenue generated through product sales with pricing based on quantity and specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Protei.co develops and supplies sustainable proteins derived from insects (Black Soldier Fly larvae, crickets, mealworms) and from methanotrophic fermentation (Single Cell Proteins). The portfolio targets the animal feed, pet food, aquaculture, and fertilizer industries, with products including larvae meal, fresh insect biomass, dried whole insects, purified insect lipids, cricket powder, single-cell protein meal, and an organic fertilizer by-product.

Product overview

Protei.co is a sustainable protein production company offering a portfolio of entomological and fermentation-derived protein products for animal feed, pet food, aquaculture, and agricultural fertilizer applications. The product lineup includes: Protei.coOne (premium black soldier fly larvae meal for feed/pets/aquaculture), Protei.coMono (single-cell protein from methane fermentation), Protei.coSoft (fresh Hermetia illucens biomass for wet pet food), Protei.coWD (dried insects for poultry and exotic pets), Protei.coLipidi.co (purified insect lipids for young animals), Protei.coPro (cricket/larvae powder for human and animal nutrition), and Protei.coFertili.co (organic fertilizer from insect farming by-products). The products utilize circular economy principles, processing agricultural waste into high-value protein ingredients while reducing environmental impact by up to 98% water savings and 40% CO2 reduction compared to traditional protein sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Protei.coOne: Premium larvae meal: a complete protein substitute in animal feed for feed, pet-food and aquaculture
• Protei.coMono
• Protei.coSoft
• Protei.coWD
• Protei.coLipidi.co
• Protei.coPro
• Protei.coFertili.co

Products and services

• Protei.coOne

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 98% less water consumption compared to traditional protein sources
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Research Centers and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtei.co collaborates with research centers and universities to develop and advance sustainable protein technologies. This collaboration focuses on research, development, and technology advancement in the sustainable protein sector, including work on methanotrophic fermentation, microalgae proteins, and field grass proteins.
• FAIRR (Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index)minorOthersFAIRR is an investor network analyzing sustainability actions by 60 major meat, dairy, and aquaculture producers. Protei.co references the index to demonstrate industry relevance of sustainable protein investments.
• CandriamminorOthersLeading sustainable investment company and part of the FAIRR network. Candriam provides SRI strategies and research on sustainable agriculture and livestock practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BioMar: Global aquaculture feed manufacturer that is one of the largest potential customers (and now investors) for insect-based aquafeed protein, directly competing with Protei.co on the aquaculture protein-ingredient supply relationship.
• Skretting (Nutreco): World-leading aquaculture feed brand of Nutreco, which has invested in insect-protein startups — a broad incumbent in the same aquaculture feed ingredient market that Protei.co targets with Protei.coOne and Protei.coMono.
• Cargill: Global animal nutrition and feed giant, the largest incumbent buyer/supplier in the same feed, aquaculture, and pet food markets that Protei.co serves — overlapping on end-customer base though not on insect technology.

Direct peers

• InnovaFeed: French insect-protein producer focused on Black Soldier Fly meal for aquaculture and pet nutrition — a directly comparable technology, end-market, and European operating footprint to Protei.co.
• Ÿnsect: French insect-protein producer using mealworms for feed and pet food, the largest and most-capitalised European BSF/insect rival directly competing with Protei.co across feed, pet food, and aquaculture ingredients.
• Calysta: US-based single-cell protein producer (FeedKind) using gas fermentation — directly comparable to Protei.co's methanotrophic SCP technology (Protei.coMono) in both feedstock approach and feed/aquaculture target market.
• Protix: Dutch pioneer in industrial-scale BSF insect protein for feed and pet food, offering essentially the same entomological ingredient portfolio as Protei.co with overlapping EU customers.

Regional players

• AgriProtein: South Africa-headquartered insect-protein producer with a comparable BSF-based feed ingredient model but operates in a different geography (Africa, Middle East, Asia), positioning it as a regional rather than direct EU competitor.

Emerging players

• Entocycle: UK-based insect-protein startup focused on BSF for animal feed and pet food — an emerging, smaller-scale competitor overlapping with Protei.co on technology and target segments.

Others

• Bühler Group: Swiss plant-engineering firm that designs industrial-scale insect-protein production facilities for the industry — adjacent ecosystem participant providing the underlying technology infrastructure that Protei.co and its rivals rely on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/68208000

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Protei.co