Bulgaria’s Finalist in Chivas Venture 2018
Image Source: http://www.nasekomo.life/
The Bulgarian finalist in the international competition for social entrepreneurship Chivas Venture 2018 is a project for production of proteins for insect larvae from organic wastes.
The project is developed by the Bulgarian startup NASEKOMO of Xavier Marcenac /founder of TELUS International – the largest outsourcing company in Bulgaria/ and his wife Olga Marcenac. NASEKOMO has been selected among 4 Bulgarian finalists and will represent the country at the international competition with another 29 businesses working for a better tomorrow. The total prize pool amounts to USD 1 million.
The technology of the Bulgarian finalist allows organic waste to be turned into insect larva food, primarily of the so called black fly. Fly larvae increase their mass seven times a week, and in turn become a rich source of protein for compound feeds for a number of farm animals. The larval protein is a substitute for soy and fish protein in the breeding of chickens, pigs and other animals. Furthermore, the extraction of protein through organic wastes reduces the emission of harmful emissions, which are released into the air in their rotting if they are not used. The company hopes to receive an investment to build larval breeding sites with sensory surveillance equipment and automated care for flies’ larvae.
The other finalists in the Bulgarian contest are CheckPoint Cardio, Jamba and Agnon.
CheckPoint Cardio develops a system for monitoring of cardiac data of patients and sending the collected data to treating physicians. The technology allows the integration of data into healthcare systems at a national level. Jamba is a platform that provides training and jobs for people with disabilities. Agnon is the founders of an economical and efficient solid fuel rocket stove with the capacity to heat both domestic and public spaces, but with 3 times less fuel consumption.
The next stage of Chivas Venture 2018 is an online vote by a broad audience, on the basis of which a portion of USD 250 000 of the overall prize pool of the competition will be distributed among the projects. The remaining USD 750 000 will be distributed among the winners at the grand international final, which will take place in Amsterdam on May 24, when NASEKOMO will present its technology.
