FreezeM and the EIC Accelerator: Insect Larvae on Pause

Black soldier fly larvae turn food waste into protein for animal feed, and every insect farm needs a steady supply of newly hatched larvae. Farms either breed their own flies or buy from daily suppliers, according to FreezeM. The company, a company based in Herzliya, Israel, developed a way to pause the life cycle of the larvae so they can be produced centrally and shipped in batches, a product it calls PauseM.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,293,725 towards a €3.30 million project that ran from October 2022 to September 2024. It reported cryopreserved eggs from three genetic lines, suspension of larvae for more than 14 days and a patented counting and dosing technology. FreezeM's website now says its "pre-counted PauseM units are shipped globally". It publishes no volumes or revenue.

Where FreezeM Stands Today

FreezeM markets PauseM as an outsourced breeding service: farms receive "life-cycle PAUSED" neonates and no longer need their own breeding unit. Its website claims "over 90% survival rate", a "20% rise in production yields" and lower costs, and quotes Richard Small, founder of the insect farm INSPRO, calling PauseM "a game-changer for our farm". It also pitches to waste management companies turning bio-waste into protein. It gives no customer list, shipment volumes or funding details.

The Technology: Pressing Pause on a Fly

Black soldier fly larvae hatch every day, which ties farms to continuous breeding. FreezeM separates reproduction from rearing by holding eggs or newly hatched larvae in suspension and reviving them on demand. According to the CORDIS report, the project achieved "successful cryopreservation of BSF eggs originated from three different genetic lines", "prolonged suspension periods of over 14 days", with work towards 28 days, and a counting and dosing technology "developed and patented" for industrial dosing.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The project promised "revivable insect preservation technologies pausing the life cycle of insects at egg or neonate larvae stages". CORDIS reports the technical results, "demonstrations and validations at industrial scale with leading partners", and a completed basic engineering design for a large breeding hub. It gives no customer numbers, volumes or revenue.

1. Egg cryopreservationDeliveredThree genetic lines.
2. Longer larval pauseDelivered14+ days; 28 targeted.
3. Industrial dosingDeliveredPatented technology.
4. A large breeding hubNot shownDesigned; construction not announced.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

The award was blended finance. In December 2022 FreezeM announced €6.3 million from the EIC as "combined grant and equity investment". On 15 February 2024 it closed a $14.2 million Series A led by the EIC Fund, with "a group of seasoned industrial investors" and existing investors, to grow its network of breeding hubs in Europe and Israel. It discloses no revenue, and Israeli company records were not accessible for this article.

Why Europe Should Care

Insect protein is part of the search for new feed sources, and a supplier that removes the need for each farm to breed its own flies could lower their costs. The EIC funded the step from lab technique to a product FreezeM says it ships worldwide.

The Verdict

FreezeM has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on company statements and EU project data, linked throughout.