Agri-biotech GreenGrahi Delhi-based startup, has successfully secured Rs 32 crore ($3.73 million) in a seed funding round led by Avaana Capital. This landmark investment isn’t just a win for GreenGrahi; it also marks the largest-ever funding round in India’s burgeoning insect biotechnology sector, signaling strong investor confidence in this innovative field.
The funding round also saw enthusiastic participation from prominent investors, including Huddle Ventures, Campus Fund, Blume Founders Fund, and a distinguished group of angel investors, such as Nitin Sharma from Nexus Ventures and Sameer Brij Verma of Northpoint Capital. This collective backing underscores the immense potential that GreenGrahi brings to the table.
Fueling Expansion: A Giant Leap in Production and Global Reach
The newly acquired capital will be strategically deployed by GreenGrahi to achieve ambitious growth objectives. A significant portion of the funds will be channeled towards the construction of a state-of-the-art, homegrown Black Soldier Fly (BSF) factory. This facility is projected to have an impressive processing capacity of 150 tonnes of agricultural feedstock per day, a monumental increase from their current 3-4 tonnes daily capacity. Expected to be operational by the end of 2025, this factory will be a game-changer for the startup’s production capabilities.
Beyond scaling production, GreenGrahi also intends to bolster its scientific team, further strengthening its research and development capabilities. Moreover, the company has set its sights on international expansion, with a strategic focus on entering the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union markets. Co-founder Siddharth Sharma highlighted the ambition, stating their anticipation of commencing global shipments by the first quarter of next year.
Agri-biotech-based startup Pioneering Insect Biotechnology for Sustainable Solutions
Founded in 2021 by the visionary duo Shivali Sugand and Siddharth Sharma, GreenGrahi is at the forefront of leveraging insect biotechnology to create high-value products. Their core focus lies in utilizing Black Soldier Flies to produce high-performance proteins, functional oils, and hydrolysates. These sustainable ingredients cater to crucial sectors such as aquaculture, poultry, and pet nutrition, offering environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional feed sources.
Furthermore, GreenGrahi is extending its impact beyond animal nutrition. The startup has developed a novel range of biological agricultural inputs, including biofertilisers, biostimulants, and biopesticides. These innovative solutions aim to enhance soil health and reduce the agricultural sector’s reliance on chemical-based products, promoting more sustainable farming practices.
Agri-biotech-based startup addressing a Critical Global Need
The rationale behind GreenGrahi’s innovative approach is deeply rooted in addressing pressing global challenges. As Co-founder Siddharth Sharma aptly pointed out, the declining wild fish stocks and the ever-increasing demand for protein are putting immense pressure on the aquafeed and livestock input industries. GreenGrahi’s technology offers a viable and sustainable pathway to alleviate this pressure by providing high-quality, science-driven feed and agri-inputs that are both accessible and scalable for global markets.
The market response to GreenGrahi’s solutions has been encouraging. The startup currently serves over 10 B2B customers in the animal and plant nutrition sectors and boasts a robust pipeline demand of Rs 560 crore from these existing partnerships alone. The upcoming large-scale facility will be crucial in meeting this burgeoning demand, both domestically and internationally. GreenGrahi anticipates that overseas markets will contribute significantly to its revenue, projecting a 30-35% share, with strong traction expected from the pet food industry.
A Sustainable Solution with Far-Reaching Impact
GreenGrahi’s business model offers a compelling solution to multiple environmental and economic challenges. By effectively repurposing agricultural residues through the process of insect bioconversion, the startup provides a sustainable alternative to traditional feed ingredients like fishmeal and soy. These conventional sources are often plagued by volatile pricing and significant ecological impacts, raising global concerns about their long-term viability.
Shruti Srivastava, Investment Director at Avaana Capital, aptly summarized GreenGrahi’s potential, stating that they are “creating category-shaping innovation in the food and agri-tech space.” She further emphasized that their “proprietary insect biotechnology and bioprocessing platform enables the production of high-performance, cost-efficient ingredients at scale—helping build resilient food supply chains for global food security through science-backed, market-ready solutions.”
GreenGrahi’s successful seed funding round, the largest in India’s insect biotech sector to date, is a testament to the transformative potential of their technology and their vision for a more sustainable future of food and agriculture. As they gear up for large-scale production and global expansion, GreenGrahi is poised to become a key player in addressing critical challenges and shaping the future of the agri-biotech industry.
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