Proteine Resources Secures €9.5M to Revolutionize Pet Nutrition
Polish startup Proteine Resources earns €9.5 million from the European Innovation Council Accelerator, becoming one of only two Polish companies selected in the latest cohort of 40 high-impact startups across Europe.
Proteine Resources, a Warsaw-based biotech innovator, has secured €9.5 million in blended financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, one of Europe’s most competitive and prestigious funding instruments for deep tech startups. Out of over 2,000 applicants, only 40 companies were selected—placing Proteine Resources among the top 2% of Europe’s most promising ventures. The achievement marks a significant milestone for Poland’s innovation ecosystem, with Proteine Resources becoming only the ninth Polish company ever to receive this distinction.
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The funding will fuel the development and scale-up of the company’s zero-waste, carbon-neutral platform that tackles two critical challenges: sustainable pet food and agricultural waste valorization. Using black soldier fly larvae as “micro-biorefineries,” the company transforms mushroom stems—an agricultural byproduct typically discarded at a cost of up to €80,000 per grower annually—into high-performance, taurine-rich, allergen-light ingredients for family-grade pet nutrition.
The process not only upcycles 6.5 million tonnes of biomass discarded annually in Europe but also contributes to significant CO₂ reductions, aligning with the EU’s circular economy goals. The company’s insect-based platform delivers a twofold impact: nutritional innovation for companion animals and environmental resilience through waste-to-value technology.
The funding comprises a blend of grant and equity capital, administered via the EIC Fund and complemented by private investment from a powerful coalition of backers, including SMOK Ventures, Bitspiration Booster VC, BNP Paribas, and Labena Ventures, along with ecosystem players such as EIT Food and the Circular Economy Hub. The European Commission, through its EISMEA agency, selected Proteine Resources for its potential to transform both the agri-food sector and pet care market with scalable, science-driven solutions.
This success comes after a rigorous 12-month application process, involving multiple proposal rounds, live pitches, and panel reviews. The EIC’s latest funding round distributed nearly €230 million across 40 European companies, with 87% receiving blended support. Proteine Resources joins this elite group with a mission to redefine sustainability in both nutrition and bioeconomy sectors.
The startup’s core team, led by founders Konrad Włodarczyk and Marcin Rutecki, includes seasoned technologists and commercial experts. Their collective experience spans machine learning, systems design, and biological engineering—crucial competencies for scaling complex circular systems.
With this backing, Proteine Resources will accelerate product development, expand production capabilities, and lay the groundwork for international market entry. Their vision extends beyond pet food to future applications in human health, bioactive compounds, and even closed-loop space ecosystems.
