Bhubaneswar April 8: Odisha-based biotech startup Elmentoz Research has won the prestigious Startup Grand Challenge Award 2025 at Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, held from April 3rd to 5th. This remarkable recognition celebrates their pioneering efforts to revolutionize the animal feed industry with their innovative smart protein technology—a game-changer designed to eliminate antibiotics and combat antimicrobial resistance.

Founded by Dr. Jayashankar Das, Elmentoz Research utilizes Black Soldier Fly (BSF) biotechnology to convert organic waste into high-quality protein, oil, and biofertilizer. Their technology provides sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional animal feed ingredients, addressing major challenges in animal health and food security. Their functional proteins fortified with antimicrobial peptides aim to reduce feed manufacturing costs, replace antibiotics, and deliver precision nutrition for poultry, aquaculture, and pet food industries.

Held at Bharat Mandapam, Startup Mahakumbh 2025 brought together India's largest entrepreneurial ecosystem with over 10,000 startups, 3,000 exhibitors, 1,000 investors, and 50,000 business visitors. Elmentoz's groundbreaking solutions were recognized by Sri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Industry & Supply, Govt. of India, as a transformative innovation with global potential.

Elmentoz has earned multiple accolades, including BIRAC’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant, the Startup India Seed Fund, and others, showcasing their deeptech leadership and sustainability impact. With plans to establish India’s largest facility to produce precision smart proteins, Elmentoz aims to manage 2.4 million metric tons of organic waste and reduce 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually—a bold step toward climate-smart biotechnology and a circular bioeconomy.