EntoCube

EntoCube, a Finnish company established in 2014, operates in the agrifood-tech sector with a focus on developing and providing insect farming technology. The company was founded by a team including Robert Nemlander, Jaakko Korpela, Janne Koskenniemi, and Otto Palonen. Nemlander, a civil engineer and former astronaut candidate, conceived the initial idea during the winter of 2013-2014 when he realized a heated construction container could provide an ideal, climate-controlled environment for sustainable food production. This concept was driven by a vision to produce sustainable protein on Earth and eventually in space, leading to collaborations with organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The company's core business is the development and sale of containerized and automated systems for cricket cultivation. These modular farming solutions are designed to minimize manual labor and operational costs, making insect protein economically competitive with traditional livestock. A key strategy has been to leverage geothermal heat by establishing farms in unconventional locations, such as 1,400 meters underground in a former metal mine in Pyhäjärvi, significantly reducing heating expenses. EntoCube provides its technology and expertise to a network of contract farmers and clients, enabling them to establish their own cricket farming operations, from small home kits to large-scale commercial facilities. This business model positions EntoCube as an enabler for a new industrial sector.

While the primary focus is now on technology, EntoCube initially entered the market by producing its own line of edible insect products. Before a legislative ban was lifted in Finland in November 2017, the company sold products like cricket jars as 'kitchen decorations' to build public awareness. Following the legislative change, it launched consumer products such as cricket granola and flavored cricket snacks. This strategy helped cultivate a market and establish insects as a viable food source in the region. The company's revenue model is based on the sale of its patented farming technologies and equipment. Over its history, EntoCube has raised approximately $447K in funding through several rounds, including grants from the European Union.

Keywords: insect farming technology, cricket cultivation, agrifood tech, sustainable protein, circular economy, food technology, modular farming, automated agriculture, controlled-environment agriculture, alternative protein, entomophagy, edible insects, contract farming, geothermal energy farming, food production systems, agricultural innovation, sustainable food solutions, protein sourcing, food security, agtech