Turning Organic Waste Into Savings

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Larry Kotch, co-founder, and CCO of JUST Biosystems, located in London, UK.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Using a fleet of moving insect containers, Mana distributes and manages insects. We work with industrial farms, set up our containers right there, and handle tonnes of organic waste per month. The black soldier fly's larvae transform the waste into protein and fertiliser inside the containers, which are then returned to the hub for processing. We sell these products to organic farmers and feed manufacturers. Mana oversees the entire process, allowing farmers to start making more money from their organic waste without having to invest in equipment up front or understand the intricacies of insect breeding and rearing. We are the first genuinely plug-and-play insect farming solution in the world. Built for farmers and the environment. Currently, we are active in Kenya and the UK.

Tell us about yourself

I started working on Mana because I was frustrated by all the talk on climate change and little action. I was also disillusioned by the evident greenwashing engaged in by many green businesses. I felt that insect farming was a fantastic win, win-win for the world's poor, the climate, and financial success. As I learned more about human-generated waste, I started to appreciate the significant environmental toll that landfills, where much of the organic waste ends up, have on the planet, as well as the potential benefits of using insects as a source of protein and natural fertilizer. It just seemed like a great business idea, and as such, I saw an opportunity to create a profitable venture by addressing a significant issue not yet fully explored, especially in the developing world. It's also an innovative way to create jobs and promote food security. It is driven by a passion for the environment and the desire to make a positive change in the world, as well as the potential for financial success.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a team, we were able to secure a £1M grant through Innovate UK, the country's national innovation agency. This is to build the world's first fully modular insect farm.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

In my case, it's travel. One can't help feeling as if family relationships suffer by incessant travel and being on different continents for extended periods of time. It's important to stay mindful of this and try your best to be extra patient and extra generous with your family to make sure the weight of your absence has a counterbalance when you actually are back home. One of the most frequent remarks people make on their deathbeds is a sense of regret for not having spent more time with loved ones, for being too absorbed in the future and status. We should understand this and try to make much more conscious decisions with respect to the ones we love the most.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

This really depends on your age, skillset, and funding.

It is all about sales. You have to be able to sell to start a business unless you are a tech genius with a new product idea.
In that vein, get the right co-founder. If you are a tech genius, you need someone that can sell and vice versa.
Meditate. You can't go on this journey from a place of craving. You must learn not to chase status and success and drive yourself to a position of creating value.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.manabiosystems.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manabiosystems/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manabiosystems/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana-biosystems/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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