Loopworm secures US$3.25M to revolutionise insect-based feed raw materials 

INDIA – Loopworm, an Indian biotech startup, has raised US$3.25 million in Pre-Series A funding to advance its groundbreaking method of producing complex proteins using silkworms instead of traditional bioreactors. 

The announcement was made on July 1, marking a major milestone for the Bangalore-based company as it scales up a proprietary, energy-efficient alternative to conventional recombinant protein manufacturing.

Founded by IIT Roorkee alumni Ankit Alok Bagaria and Abhi Gawri, Loopworm has developed a novel biomanufacturing process that leverages silkworms as living factories for producing recombinant proteins. 

Traditionally, these proteins, used in diagnostics, animal vaccines, and industrial processes, are made by inserting genetic material into microorganisms and growing them in expensive, energy-intensive bioreactors. Loopworm’s approach removes this dependency.

“Recombinant protein manufacturing has long been constrained by expensive infrastructure and slow scalability,” said Bagaria. 

“Our reactor-free approach using silkworms changes the economics entirely. Having proven the technology, we are now focusing on commercialising our recombinant protein production platform, initially targeting diagnostics, animal vaccines and other applications with lower regulatory barriers.”

Backed by global investors and scaling fast

The funding round was led by WaterBridge Ventures and Japanese VC firm ENRISSION INDIA CAPITAL, both of which expressed strong confidence in Loopworm’s platform and vision.

“Loopworm is testament to the dominant role Indian startups can play in the global biotech industry,” said Ashish Jain, partner at WaterBridge. “Their silkworm recombinant platform isn’t just novel,  it’s a potential leapfrog moment for biotech in India.”

Harsh Deodhar, principal at ENRISSION INDIA CAPITAL, echoed this sentiment: “For us, the investment represents both conviction in Loopworm’s platform and alignment with Japan’s strategic and biotech priorities. Loopworm’s approach holds strong potential across multiple sectors in Japan, aligning well with the country’s sustainability goals and industrial biotech ambitions.”

Operating out of a certified, high-capacity facility in Bangalore that processes 6,000 tonnes of insects annually, Loopworm exports its silkworm-based protein and oil to Europe, South America and ASEAN countries. 

The company has already achieved several technical breakthroughs, including the successful expression of complex proteins in silkworm pupae.

“As biotech evolves, the demand for manufacturing platforms that combine speed, cost-efficiency and scalability continues to grow,” said Gawri. 

“Our silkworm-based platform is uniquely positioned to meet these needs with unmatched flexibility and affordability. With this new funding, we’re accelerating our efforts to make a meaningful contribution to India’s national bio-economy vision.”

Loopworm currently holds regulatory approvals for R&D-scale recombinant protein production and has filed multiple patents.

The company is now building a broader compliance and intellectual property framework as it prepares to enter new markets and scale its technology globally.

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