MaryaNutri

14/07/2025

🚀 MaryaNutri is growing — and we’re looking for a production partner!

Following the successful launch of our first two products — with the incredible support of Wintercircus Ghent, the Wintercircus Fund, and VLAIO — we’re excited to scale up our impact.

We’ve created insect-powered protein biscuits and food bars that combine bold innovation, sustainable nutrition, and purpose-driven science.

💪 In Belgium, they meet the growing demand for high-protein functional snacks, especially for sports and recovery.
🌍 In Africa and Asia, they offer shelf-stable, nutritious solutions for fighting malnutrition in children and vulnerable communities.

🟢 MaryaNutri Protein Biscuits
✔ 15% energy from protein
✔ Light, crispy, and easy to enjoy every day

🟢 MaryaNutri High-Protein Food Bars
✔ Over 21% energy from protein
✔ High in fibre, designed for endurance and recovery

We’re now looking for a production partner — a food producer or co-packer — who shares our values and wants to help bring these products to more restaurants, retail shelves, and international markets.

📩 If you’re interested or know someone we should speak to, please get in touch at contact@maryanutri.com or send us a direct message.

Let’s build the future of food — together. 💚

28/06/2025

🦗 Bio-ingenieurstudent Maryam Imbumi wil de wereld voeden met insectenmengsels. Nadat ze eerder via haar startup MaryaNutri een met insecten verrijkte pap heeft ontwikkeld voor ondervoede kinderen, stort Imbumi zich nu op snacks voor een breder publiek. In het Wintercircus in Gent stelt ze koekjes en voedingsrepen voor die verrijkt zijn met meelworm- en krekeleiwit. 👉 Lees het artikel op vilt.be: https://vilt.be/nl/nieuws/ooit-at-ze-insecten-uit-noodzaak-nu-lanceert-keniaanse-studente-insectenpoeder-en-snacks-voor-klimaat-en-ondervoeding

28/06/2025

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that the launch of MaryaNutri was featured in VILT.be, one of Flanders’ leading agri-food news platforms! 🐛🌍

Our mission began with a simple but powerful idea: tackle child malnutrition and promote climate-resilient nutrition using sustainable insect protein.

Last Tuesday, we officially launched our first products — protein-packed biscuits and food bars — at Wintercircus Ghent, and we’re so proud that this moment is now being shared with a wider audience through VILT.be.

📰 Read the full article (in Dutch):
👉 https://vilt.be/nl/nieuws/ooit-at-ze-insecten-uit-noodzaak-nu-lanceert-keniaanse-studente-insectenpoeder-en-snacks-voor-klimaat-en-ondervoeding

A big thank you to VILT.be for recognizing our vision — and to our community for supporting us every step of the way. 💚

25/06/2025

What an incredible moment for MaryaNutri! 🎉
We’re thrilled to see our official launch featured by Wintercircus Ghent — the place that helped bring our vision to life.

Yesterday, we introduced our very first protein-packed biscuits and food bars, enriched with sustainable mealworm protein 🐛💪 — a bold step in our mission to fight child malnutrition through nutritious, insect-based food solutions.

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Wintercircus Fund and VLAIO Subsidy, which gave us the space and resources to grow from a bold idea to a tangible impact.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to taste, celebrate, and support this mission. This is just the beginning. 💚

26/05/2025

Als kind moest ze in Kenia af en toe termieten eten, omdat voedsel zo schaars was. Het inspireerde Maryam Imbumi om aan de UGent een met insecten verrijkte pap te ontwikkelen. Zo wil ze ondervoeding bij kinderen helpen tegengaan.

Lees het volledige artikel: https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/management-ondernemerschap/zelf-overleefde-ze-ooit-op-termieten-nu-bestrijdt-ze-honger-met-insectenpap/10607186.html

Foto's: Wouter Van Vooren

18/05/2025

🌍 From Hunger to Hope: How Imbumi is Using Insect Protein to Fight Global Malnutrition

📰 Exciting News: Featured in Tijd Today!
We’re incredibly proud that Maryam’s inspiring journey and the mission of MaryaNutri are being spotlighted in Tijd, Belgium’s leading business newspaper — today!
A huge moment for visibility and validation of this powerful, purpose-driven innovation.
📖 Read the story here:
https://lnkd.in/e22Nvz2C

💸 Key Financial Milestones
✅ €50,000 grant from VLAIO - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
✅ €9,000 start-up funding from FIT - Investment & Trade
✅ Selected for Ghent, Ghent’s prestigious tech incubator
✅ Guided by a powerhouse advisory board including:
- Prof. Hans De Steur ( University)
- Alexander Maroy ( insect farm)
- Bernard Desrumaux ( OUD HUIS FERDINAND TIERENTEYN)
- Steffi Van Severen (Flanders Investment & Trade - FIT)
- Jolien Coenraets (Gentrepreneur)

Next steps? Scaling up protein-rich cookies and nutrition bars for both European markets and humanitarian food programs.

“If I had ever wanted to give up, I would’ve done so when I was six.”
— Maryam Imbumi, Founder & CEO of MaryaNutri!

Maryam’s story is proof that innovation starts with empathy — and scales with courage.

Let’s celebrate and support visionary founders who are not just solving problems but transforming lives.

- Flanders Investment & Trade - FIT

16/05/2025

🌿 What a day at Tomorrow 2025: Food for Thought! 🚀🥗
The future of food was not just discussed — it was felt, tasted, and ignited at Gare Maritime, Brussels this past 15 May, and is proud to have been part of it.

As a food tech start-up committed to "END malnutrition through insect-fortified foods", this event gave us the chance to:
✨ Connect with visionary investors and policymakers
🌍 Share our solutions alongside leading food innovators
💬 Engage in thought-provoking conversations about scaling sustainable nutrition

A big thank you to ABN AMRO Private Banking Belgium for creating a platform where impact meets action, and to every guest who visited our stand at the Start-up Market, including the team from . Your feedback, questions, and curiosity inspire us to keep pushing boundaries. Appreciations to who helped to make this a success!

🍽️ The future of food starts with personal experience, stories, and then a bold step to a sustainable initiative. It is tech-driven, and we’re excited to be part of the movement.

Let’s keep the conversation going. 🌱

14/04/2025

🌍 A world free of hunger and malnutrition — MaryaNutri at CGIAR Science Week

This week, Maryam Imbumi had the incredible opportunity to represent MaryaNutri at , connecting with global leaders and over 10,000 delegates from 100 countries that are passionate about nutrition and innovation.

Grateful for insightful conversations with:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Bezos Family Foundation, Columbia University, Mastercard Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CIFOR-ICRAF, World Food Programme, Africa Rice Center, CGIAR, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and .

Thank you all for your willingness to support, advise and collaborate. The future of nutrition is bold, inclusive and insect-powered. Grateful for these connections — now turning them into action.

02/04/2025

MaryaNutri is proud to see our founder, Maryam Imbumi, recognized as the first recipient of the Collective Wild Card from the Wintercircus Ghent Fund! 🚀

A big thank you to Ben Van Alboom, Prof. Hans De Steur, Department of Agricultural Economics - Ghent University, UGent Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, and Leen Van der Mijnsbrugge for their work in making this possible. This support fuels our mission to combat malnutrition with innovative, insect-enriched nutrition solutions.

Check out the video on Wintercircus Ghent' social media to see how they are backing bold changemakers! 🔥

02/04/2025

We are proud to announce that MaryaNutri has been awarded the Collective Wild Card from the Wintercircus Ghent Funds! 🌟
This opportunity marks a significant step forward in our mission to tackle malnutrition through sustainable, insect-based superfoods. Being part of the Wintercircus Ghent network will enable us to connect with like-minded innovators, collaborate on impactful solutions and further develop our vision for a healthier, more sustainable future. 🐛🎪

We extend our sincere thanks to Wintercircus Ghent, Leen Van der Mijnsbrugge, Dorien Van Steenberge and Noah Henriques da Silva for their trust and support!!

Together, we are building the foundation for meaningful change.

Als 3- en als 6-jarige stierf ze bijna door honger en ondervoeding. Sindsdien koestert Maryam Imbumi een grote droom: ondervoeding de wereld uithelpen. En dat wil ze bereiken met voedsel op basis van insecten. “Het zit boordevol kwaliteitsvolle eiwitten, gezonde vetten, koolhydraten, essentiële a...

02/04/2025

MaryaNutri at JKUAT: Pushing Boundaries in Nutrition Innovation! 💡🥣

Maryam Imbumi had an incredible two days at the 19th Jomo Kenyatta University - JKUAT of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Scientific & Industrialization Conference, where MaryaNutri received strong interest—opening doors to key collaborations in the fight against malnutrition.

A major highlight was our discussion with Prof. Judith Kimiywe, a leading expert in nutrition and longtime UNICEF partner. She has offered to support us in developing LNS-SQ nutrient supplements, a critical solution sought after by Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF. Her expertise and support could be game-changing for our mission!

Huge thanks to Prof. John Kinyuru, PhD, RNS, Prof. Mary Abukutsa O. O.(Ph.D, MKNAS,EBS), Dr. Annah Indeche and Dr. Amos Mbugua, PhD for their insights and support. Their expertise strengthens our mission to create innovative, life-saving nutrition solutions.

Exciting steps ahead as we push forward in revolutionizing food security! 🚀

02/04/2025

Exciting progress at MaryaNutri! 🚀🥣

Maryam Imbumi successfully processed our insect-fortified products at the FR&D hall of Hogeschool VIVES Centre of expertise for agro- and biotechnology and the results were excellent! Just a few final adjustments before we move toward full-scale production.

A huge thank you to Yves De Bleecker, Helmund Vandenborre and Thomas Spranghers for their invaluable support in making this happen. Your expertise and dedication are paving the way for a sustainable, nutrition-packed solution to fight malnutrition.

This is just the beginning—on to the next step!