In countries like Mexico, the business idea of Wicked Cricket Rather unspectacular. The Munich-based startup sells roasted crickets, or rather crickets, as a snack. And eating insects is not uncommon outside of Europe. Here, eating insects has traditionally been more of a test of courage. Physicist Josef Hirte and teacher Mathias Rasch want to change that.
The two founders offer the edible insects in three different flavors on the local market. Crickets are very healthy, as they contain many nutrients important to humans, such as unsaturated fatty acids, zinc, iron, and vitamins.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please briefly introduce yourself and your product!
We, Josef and Mathias, have lived next door to each other for quite some time, have been good friends for years, and have always shared our sometimes absurd ideas on the balcony. Two years ago, we experimented together on an insect farm, and soon we were at the trade office with our own company.
Wicked Cricket: Away from the disgusting image
We offer you specially roasted and finely seasoned crickets (crickets) in three delicious flavors: Allgäu Wild Herbs, Fleur di Sale, and Pink Peppercorn. We want to make Munich chirp, integrate entomophagy, or eating insects, into your diet, and definitely get rid of the disgusting image.
2. But that's been around for a long time!
Within Germany, there are a few providers that sell through online shops, and sometimes also through larger department stores. However, their concept is less focused on offering insects as a serious food, but rather as a test of courage or food for freaks. In addition, many startups are currently springing up that are working on making insects attractive by hiding them in pasta, burgers, or protein bars.
In contrast, we deliberately want to offer the customer the cricket as a whole, since eating insects is no longer unusual these days.
Eat or chirp!
3. What are the three main ingredients for your recipe for success?
Take…
- A good portion of love and enthusiasm for new ideas and for everyone.
- A generous dose of cronyism, for example in terms of design and public relations.
- A lot of courage: Do it, but do it well! Or: Eat or chirp!
Crickets are to become a staple on Munich’s plates
4. Let’s get down to business: How’s business going?
We're still serving a small niche market with Wicked Cricket, but that's exactly what we want to change. We're currently roasting big! Hopefully, we'll be out of the red by the end of the year.
Of course, we are also looking for stores that would like to offer our products, but we are still at the beginning of that.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
Many people advised us against starting a startup in Munich. 'Go to Berlin instead,' was the general consensus. But after the second week, we already knew we hadn't done anything wrong.
Support from all sides
We're receiving positive feedback for our product and are receiving motivation from all sides. New ideas are emerging everywhere at the moment, but above all, the Container Collective at Ostbahnhof is the ideal platform for us...
Many Munich residents are definitely interested in innovations and alternative lifestyles, so customers shouldn't be far away. Of course, inner-city insect farming remains a pipe dream at these real estate prices. So if anyone happens to be selling off hectares of commercial space (preferably with waste heat from a biogas plant or similar) at a bargain price, please feel free to get in touch.
Personally, we can't imagine life without Munich. We love cycling through the city in the sunshine!
Can a cricket become a unicorn?
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Our delicate little crickets give us a truly unique character. Add to that this ingenious design by our Munich-based artist and friend Lion Fleischmann, who now lives in Ibiza. And, of course, the melodic name: Wicked Cricket. A suitable translation would be something like "Shrill Cricket." But we still like to allow ourselves the odd slip-up from time to time.
7. Isar or English Garden?
Luckily, as a Munich resident, you don't have to choose; we're pretty flexible. However, we've both lived next door to each other in Maxvorstadt for a good decade, and for convenience, the English Garden often wins. Or simply combine the English Garden and the Isar, in the northern part...
