Tiny Heroes

Magmatic Bio is a startup based in Vienna. By combining computational biology, biochemistry and process engineering, we develop ultra-selective metal binding proteins. You can imagine the proteins as fishing nets, which are used to clean up technology metals in a process called refining. Refining is a necessary and important step in getting to pure metals, which for example go into batteries or microchips. A major problem is that consumes a lot of chemicals and land. With our biology-driven approach we make metal refining more compact, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Animal production relies heavily on corn, soybean, and fishmeal, which carry environmental costs and face growing demand. Insects are emerging as a sustainable alternative. Species like the black soldier fly can convert organic waste into protein-rich biomass with low resource use. Studies show insect meal can partially replace conventional feed in aquaculture, poultry, and pigs. While regulations are evolving, challenges remain, including variability in quality, digestibility, production costs, and consumer acceptance