KrillTech: Why the world needs impact startups
“One of the biggest missions for KrillTech is to be able to contribute to eliminating world hunger. How? Through increasing food production, not only in developed countries, but mainly in developing and under-developed countries.” Diego Stone, co-founder and CEO of KrillTech.
University Startup World Cup (USWC) 2021 green category growth stage winner KrillTech is a 100 % Brazilian but aiming for a world-wide impact within agriculture.
In recent years and months, the world has seen many complications relating to inflation, global warming and the war in Europe to name a few. Circumstances that have led to vast increases in food prices and challenges in farming among other things. Circumstances that emphasize the need for innovation and entrepreneurship within farming.
How? By applying nano-technology to agriculture.
KrillTech was founded by Diego Stone and his associates in a collaboration between University of Brasilia and Embrapa, and the goal of the company is clear:
“Our mission is to be the go to company, not only in Brazil but worldwide in regards to nano-technology applied to agriculture,” Diego Stone says.
Participating and winning a category at the University Startup World Cup has been an interesting journey and seal of approval for the founders who did not have a lot of support building the company:
“Everything was custom made. It was basically funded by ourselves. Here in Brazil, it’s not like in Europe or the US where you have big grants and support from government, institutions and so on. Mostly it’s been done by us, by the investors, the scientists and engineers, everyone that has been collaborating with us to make it happen. Not only that, but the bureaucracy is always a big issue,” Diego explains.
From the foundation of KrillTech in 2019 until now, the founders have been busy, and the impact of the company has skyrocketed. “We have scaled it up, so in 2020 we opened up a factory here in Brazil. And now we are able to sell our product and export it to other countries,” Diego proudly explains.
Currently, they are looking to expand into the Chinese market using the network Diego got while participating in the USWC, but also working to access the Scandinavian market as well as working with developing and under-developed countries in Africa.
“The University Startup World Cup was really fun and it got us quite some international exposure.” Diego Stone, Co-founder and CEO of KrillTech.
So, how does it even work, you ask?
Diego kindly explains: “We’re talking about nanoparticles that work as physiological boosters for plants. Imagine whey protein for plants, that’s kind of it. We’re increasing nutrients absorption, we’re increasing photosynthetic activity and also the stress resistance of the plants. Therefore, you have a plant that not only increases its productivity but also you have higher quality of fruits, grains and so on. And also has a much higher stress resistance, for example against frost, high temperatures, and dry spells.”
Not only has KrillTech made results with watermelons, but a lot of other crops such as rice, maize, cotton, cocoa, wheat, soybeans, etc.
And, for other entrepreneurs out there, Diego Stone has a piece of advice: “We’re pretty much used to thinking only about the local and national market – and that’s really narrow-minded. We’re living in a very globalized market, the world is huge. So don’t limit yourselves to small markets, think big. The barriers that existed once are not that relevant nowadays.”
If you are dreaming about going international with your startup, why not enter the global stage at the University Startup World Cup 2022? Read more and apply.
