Using natures sense for smell and taste to improve food products

InsectSense, a biotechnology start-up from Wageningen (The Netherlands), closed a €800k pre-seed round with Capricorn Partners, Oost NL and an angel investor. The company focusses on the development of its ReceptomiX technology for objective measurement of taste properties. The investment will enable the company to prepare its technology for market introduction, expand the organization’s capabilities and further develop the ReceptomiX equipment and software.

Founded by Aria Samimi (CEO) and Leon Schipper (CTO), InsectSense is a deeptech start-up that can objectively measure taste properties. A first version of the technology has been developed that consists of a biochip with human and insect receptors, a benchtop device that reads-out signals and software that allows for the interpretation of the data.

Objectively measuring taste fills gap

The ReceptomiX technology objectively and rapidly measures the bioactivity of molecules and compounds on humans, such as taste experience and health effects. Unlike traditional analytical tools that identify the molecules present in a product, ReceptomiX is mimicking insect antennae and combines human DNA for sensing to provide insights into how these molecules are perceived by humans. This approach fills a critical gap, as flavour- and food producers often rely on subjective human panels for such assessments.

Investment enhances product development

The investment enables InsectSense to drive the continued development of the technology. Aria Samimi, CEO of InsectSense, emphasizes of the funding’s importance: “This pre-seed capital fuels our efforts to gather market feedback from early adopters while advancing our R&D to create a mass-producible biochip. Securing investment for deeptech startups developing platform technologies is often challenging. We are grateful that these reputable investors trust us, our vision, and our technology.”

The funding round is provided by the Dutch Industrial Biotech Seed Fund, managed by the Cleantech Team of Capricorn Partners, and Innovatie- en Energiefonds Gelderland, managed by Oost NL, the regional development agency for the East Netherlands region.

Investment Director Damien van der Bijl recognizes the great promise of ReceptomiX: “We look forward to working with the team at InsectSense to bring this exciting technology to the market. Taste is still one of the main hurdles in the development of meat and dairy alternatives and the reliance on subjective taste panels makes it costly and time consuming. InsectSense is the ideal partner for anyone developing the food and beverage solutions for tomorrow and it has the team to deliver”.

Jos Putker, investment manager Food at Oost NL: “We’ve been heavily involved with InsectSense development from a very early stage. It’s great to see the team and the technology developing. This investment allows them to take the next step in the

market. Ultimately InsectSense’ technology will help food producers to deliver tasty products for consumers. This will be beneficial for the development of alternative protein products, accelerating the protein transition.”

Margriet Roelse joins management team Following the investment, Dr. Margriet Roelse joins InsectSense as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Margriet has a 17-year research track record at Wageningen University & Research, where her main focus was on the core technology underlying ReceptomiX. At InsectSense, Margriet will lead the scientific development.

The team was already strengthened in April 2024 with Steven Alexander, who has an extensive background in the Food and Beverages industry. Steven takes up the role of Chief Business Officer and as partner responsible for both the company & business development.

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