Livin Farms produces Hive Pro, a modular system that automates rearing and processing of black soldier flies, using robotic arms to move trays and turning larvae into powder while converting remaining material into fertilizer. The company feeds larvae with food waste and is piloting a 1,400-square-meter farm in Austria. Earlier products included a Hive Explorer STEM kit for mealworms; the firm is SOSV-backed. Founder and CEO Katharina Unger says the process takes around 11 days and yields about half a ton of biomass and half a ton of fertilizer. The company frames its technology as a way to up-cycle organic waste and create new revenue streams for customers while addressing food-system challenges. Financially, Livin Farms has completed a $5.8M Series A that follows a $3.8M seed round. Livin Farms breeds mealworms and develops technology for industrial-scale insect farming, operating a pilot factory in Vienna's 23rd district. The company feeds larvae with bread and baking waste and reports that mealworms require far fewer resources than cattle (2.2 kg CO2‑eq per kg protein versus 68 kg for cattle). Livin Farms is positioning itself as a technology provider, aiming to build turnkey, plug-&-play systems while only operating parts of the breeding process itself. Management plans include moving into a larger production facility to scale operations. Katharina Unger is CEO and founder. The company markets its approach as a sustainable alternative protein input for animal feed and other uses.

Total raised

$9M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Sep 2022