INSEAD students turn insects into impact

Overfishing is a growing threat to the world’s marine life and fishing communities. One of the leading causes: each year, a large portion of the wild fish caught are used for the fish feed industry — indeed it takes several kilos of anchovies to grow just one salmon.

INSEAD students Tim van Vliet and Saby Maity, both MBA’19J, saw an opportunity to produce a more cost-competitive, healthier, and environmentally sustainable fish feed from insects feeding on bio-waste.

In December 2018, their project won both the Thomas C. Barry Prize and the Coromandel Foundation Social Impact award in the 37th INSEAD Venture Competition (IVC) organised by the Maag Centre for Entrepreneurship. Winning the IVC created great momentum for Tim and Saby’s venture and led them to establish their company, INSEACT.

Looking ahead, the founders hope to become the world’s largest insect company to maximise their impact on society and the environment.