The startup develops insect breeding technologies that enhance the genetic performance of black soldier flies, utilizing biotechnology to convert food waste into high-quality protein for animal feed. This approach provides a sustainable alternative to soymeal and fishmeal, addressing the growing demand for protein sources in livestock, aquaculture, and pet feed.
Funding
$2.1M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
TFounders
Product
Problem
The insect farming industry requires consistent genetic improvement of Black Soldier Flies (BSF) to enhance productivity and reduce reliance on environmentally damaging protein sources like soymeal and fishmeal. Current BSF breeds have not been genetically optimized for large-scale production, limiting the industry's ability to compete on price point against existing feed ingredients.
Solution
Beta Bugs provides genetically improved Black Soldier Fly breeds to insect farmers, doubling industry output through advanced breeding techniques. The company utilizes biotechnology, quantitative genetics, and high-throughput technologies to improve key quantity traits in larvae and flies, such as larval mass, development time, egg yield, and survival rate. These breeds are distributed as eggs and young larvae from a dedicated multiplication center, ensuring consistent quality and scale. By focusing solely on genetics, Beta Bugs enables producers to improve their bottom line and scale their operations efficiently, contributing to a more sustainable and circular agri-food value chain.
Target Audience
The primary customers are insect farmers and protein producers seeking to improve the productivity and profitability of their Black Soldier Fly operations, as well as new market entrants looking to establish efficient and scalable insect farms.
Features
- HiPER-FLY®: Elite BSF product bred for quantity traits that increase producer yield
- Just Fly™: Standard BSF product reared to high zootechnical standards for market entrants
- The Multiplier™: Dedicated multiplication and egg production center ensuring scale and quality
- Selective breeding program scoring and selecting for multiple quantity traits in parallel
- Continuous monitoring for performance trade-offs and in-breeding depression
- Regular evaluation of trait portfolio to ensure relevance and inclusion of new quantitative and qualitative traits
- Breeds adaptable to diverse farming systems and climates