Proteine Resources, a biotech startup developing next-generation functional proteins from insects, has secured €9.5 million (~$10.2M) in blended financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator — one of the world’s most competitive innovation programs for science-driven ventures.
Selected from thousands of applicants, Proteine is the one of two Polish startups in this cohort, and just the 9th ever from Poland to receive this prestigious grant. The EIC Accelerator is often compared to Y Combinator (YC) in terms of selectivity — but is specifically designed for deeptech startups, offering up to €12.5M in blended grant and equity funding.
“The EIC Accelerator is where deeptech gets its wings,” said Bartłomiej Roszkowski, co-founder and co-CEO of Proteine — and a YC alumnus himself.
“We’re thrilled to be among the few selected. It’s a powerful validation of what we’ve built — and what’s coming next.”
Proteine’s mission is to create functional, high-performance proteins tailored to the needs of animals — with a focus on health, digestibility, and sustainability. Its proprietary insect bioconversion platform upcycles mushroom stems and mycelium, converting them into premium-grade protein rich in bioavailable taurine and L-arginine. These are critical amino acids for cats and active pets, supporting:
- Immune balance
- Digestive health
- Allergy mitigation
- Visible coat and skin improvements.
“We’re not just producing protein — we’re delivering a performance ingredient,” said Konrad Wlodarczyk, founder of Proteine Resources and technology developer. “It works because it’s built with biology in mind — from the input stream to the metabolic profile.”
Crucially, the product has also shown exceptional palatability, including for sensitive animals like cats, which are often challenging to serve with novel proteins.
The €9.5M in funding will allow Proteine to build a 10x scaled pilot facility, launch the world’s first fully autonomous insect protein factory, deploy a modular, low-energy design adaptable to any location with sidestream feedstock and commercialize a 1:1 functional analogue of beef for the premium pet food segment. By integrating AI-based controls and automation, Proteine reduces operational costs and enables decentralized production — redefining how sustainable proteins can scale.
In many European countries, mushroom growers spend up to €80,000 per year disposing of residual stems and mycelium — a cost Proteine’s solution transforms into a revenue-generating input. This system:
- Eliminates waste management costs
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and leach risk
- Provides local farmers with a stake in circular food innovation.
“We help turn a problem into a profit center,” said Roszkowski.
“And we do it in a way that’s scalable, measurable, and emissions-neutral.”
Its ingredients are not just replacements — they’re upgrades. Bioactive, digestible. climate-positive and cost-effective. Proteine Resources is engineering its next leap forward — with better inputs, better outcomes, and global scalability built in.
Proteine is supported by SMOK Ventures, Bitspiration Booster VC, and has participated in EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN), including the Circular Economy Hub in Helsinki and Labena Ventures Accelerator, focused on scaling biotech and life science ventures in CEE.
“What Proteine has built isn’t just a product — it’s a platform,” said Borys Musielak, managing partner at SMOK Ventures. “They are transforming one of the biggest environmental challenges in agriculture into a scalable business with real biotech credentials. That’s rare.”
“Biotech that’s both sustainable and commercially aggressive is hard to come by,” added Andrzej Targosz, partner at Bitspiration Booster VC. “Proteine’s model hits all the right notes — circular, autonomous, and globally relevant. We’re excited to be part of the journey.”
