Insect Farm Lures Robert Downey Jr. in $224 Million Fundraising

  • Ynsect building one of the largest insect farms in N. France
  • Investors include FootPrint Coalition, group founded by actor
Robert Downey Jr.Photographer: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Venture capital investors are pouring money into Ynsect SAS, a French startup that will breed mealworms to feed fish and pets.

A total $224 million of newly pledged funds will bring the company’s Series-C funding round to $372 million, one of the largest rounds for an insect farming startup. Investors include Belgium’s Astanor Ventures, Los Angeles-based Upfront Ventures Management and FootPrint Coalition, an investment group founded by “Iron Man” movie actor Robert Downey Jr., the company said in a statement.