UPDATE: We did it!
Thank you to each and every one of you for helping us exceed the $12,500 necessary for our matching grant from Brown University. We can't wait to put each dollar to good use this summer. Keep in touch!
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This is an Embark Fellowship campaign. If we raise $12,500, Brown University will donate $25,000 to our project!
What's up with fish?
The world’s population is growing rapidly, and the global demand for animal protein—from fish to poultry, beef, and pork— is growing with it. But there’s a problem: animal feeds are made from wild-caught fish like anchovies and sardines. These fish are caught using highly destructive fishing methods that result in unintentional by-catch and the destruction of coral reefs. One third of global fish catch doesn't go towards direct human consumption; it goes to feeding animals. As a result, more than 85% of the world’s fisheries are exploited. We are feeding fish to other animals, and it doesn’t make sense.
Meanwhile, the world's population is increasing rapidly and is projected to hit 9.7 billion by 2050. We desperately need a new way to feed a growing population that is not at odds with the health of our oceans.
Meet the black soldier fly.
The black soldier fly is a friendly non-buzzing, non-biting fly native to tropical and temperate regions of the world. As larvae, it feeds ravenously on organic waste—everything from spent grains from breweries to fruit and veggie peels. We divert this organic waste as our input and the black soldier fly larvae metabolize it to become our nutrient-rich output. This insect protein is then sold to chicken and fish farmers as a great protein base for their animals.
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What We Do
We partner with food and beverage companies—like breweries, restaurants, and fruit & vegetable processors—and implement an automated, retrofitted shipping container we like to call The Refinery. We’re working with some of the world’s leading experts in black soldier flies to develop an algorithm that automates the entire process. Our sensors measure data in realtime and the algorithm maximizes efficiency. Meanwhile, a community of microbes pre-treats the waste, breaking down fibrous content into more digestible compounds so we can work with a wide range of organic waste streams.
What does The Refinery look like?
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About Us
Viraj Sikand and Maya Faulstich-Hon are seniors at Brown University studying Environmental Studies, and Eric Katz is a senior studying Business at the University of Michigan. They share a drive to create more sustainable food systems and a passion for black soldier flies. Here they are with the first Kulisha bug-growing greenhouse:
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Where We've Come From & Where We're Going
Our name means “to feed” in Swahili. We trace our roots to Kenya, where Kulisha was first born as a response to destructive fishing practices by commercial vessels. In the year and a half since we started, we've:
- Built two fully-functional prototype facilities for research & development
- Partnered with leading experts in black soldier flies, industrial design, computer science, and microbiology
- Raised $210,000 of non-dilutive financing
We're relocating to Austin, Texas in the fall of 2017 to partner with a brewery and build our first commercial pilot facility! To make this possible, we need to raise $250,000 by January 2018. We've already raised $210,000 through various grants, competitions, and fellowships, and we need your help for the last $40,000.
These funds will go towards:
- Materials for the shipping container (sprinkler system, sensors, bins, shelving, etc.)
- Post-processing equipment like sifters, dryers, and packagers
- Distribution of our product to consumers and feed millers
Our Vision
Through our operations, we will:
- Divert waste from landfills, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving land
- Reduce pressure off ocean ecosystems by providing an alternative to fishmeal
- Provide an innovative use for a byproduct that is currently underused
Our technology has the potential to revolutionize the way the world uses waste and perceives food, and we are determined to do it—one black soldier fly at a time.
As is the nature of any startup, we recognize that launching a company takes sustained time and effort. For those who wish to have a more immediate impact on food security, Kenya is currently facing one of the worst famines in recent history. More information can be found at Red Cross Kenya.
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Kulisha was selected by the Social Innovation Initiative at Brown University for the Embark Post-Graduate Fellowship, which supports graduating seniors continue pursuing their entrepreneurial goals, helps their ventures gain traction, and builds a connected alumni community.
Huge thanks to the Brown University Plant Conservatory, the Brown University Swearer Center, the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship, the Zell Lurie Institute, Dow Distinguished Awards, and the Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund for their ongoing support.
And thanks to the talented Jimmy Xia and Lynn Tachihara for producing the video, Elli Sawada for the designs, and Abbey Perreault for the song!
T-Shirt Design:
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