Carlos Bugs
Delicate chocolate snacks at premium design, fuelled with insect protein for increased nutritional value
- Female Founder, Foodtech
- Pre-seed
Location
Riga, Latvia
Revenue size
EUR 10,000 - 99,999
Year founded
2022
Funding raised
N/A
Founders
Edite Ligere
Most relevant investors
N/A
Team size
1-9
Website
www.carlosbugs.com
Problem
Snacking is an essential part of our everyday nutrition - both in terms of health and comfort. But most supermarket shelves are loaded with ultra-processed products with poor nutritional quality, composed mainly of refined sugar and/or saturated fat. Unfortunately, it has become a common misconception, to associate 'healthy' with a negative compromise in taste or accessibility.
SOLUTION
Carlos'Bugs offers tasty, low-sugar and protein-rich chocolate snacks with an interesting added value - insect powder. Edible insect powder is rich in protein, containing all essential amino acids, and is a source of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fiber, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. Carlos'Bugs’ first product, chocolate pralines, is made with high-quality ingredients and is available in elegant design and packaging that promises a prime product experience.
KEY CUSTOMERS AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
Carlos'Bugs’ mission is to deliver high-quality and consumer-appealing products with optimized nutritional value, directly to the consumer’s everyday life. Currently they’re offering their first product, Chocolate pralines, but protein bites and bar snacks are in the prototype stage and will likely be launched in 2024. The ambition is to make all Carlos'Bugs products broadly available in supermarkets, concept boutiques, gourmet stores, and convenience stores.
Team
Edite Ligere is the founder and CEO of Carlos'Bugs company. She holds a professional Master’s Diploma in Business Management and is a graduate student of the "Food Science and Engineering" Master’s program at the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Having researched insects for food purposes since 2017, Edite has rich expertise in the nutritional composition and industrial usage of the innovative ingredient.
The pralines’ production is outsourced in close collaboration with a professional, luxury chocolate manufactory, with more than ten years of experience.
Unique selling point
Carlos'Bugs’ chocolate pralines provide a healthier alternative to conventional chocolates, regarding levels of sugar, protein content, and overall energy value. Further, Carlos’Bugs’ taste, premium brand identity and elegant packaging levels, promise an elevated experience on par with industry-leading luxury food products.
Asia Connection
Carlos’Bugs seek distribution channels and joint-venture collaborations in regions with growing consumer health consciousness. Carlos'Bugs is open for private label manufacturing and R&D services for insect food product recipes and technology development.