Stories

Protein is one of the three macronutrients needed in our everyday diet, along with fats and carbohydrates. The sources of proteins in our diet are varied: meat, fish and other seafood, vegetables, dairy products, and also, insects!

A few months ago, we were selected to be on the television show "Dans l'oeil du dragon", which aired on Monday, April 17, at 8pm on Radio Canada.

We are triathletes, we come from Montreal, and together we co-founded Näak (a company that makes innovative energy bars made with the most efficient and eco-responsible protein on the planet: cricket protein).

Passionate about insects from a young age, Georges Brossard is an Indiana Jones of modern times. In 40 years, he has travelled to more than 100 countries equipped with his net, in order to collect insects and supply insectariums around the world. He is the founder of the Montreal Insectarium, and the founder of 10 other insectariums around the world. His personal insect collection includes more than 500,000 specimens. He also created and hosted the Insectia series for Discovery Chanel. We loved doing this interview with Georges Brossard, who is 76 years old and full of energy, passion, and humour. Topics for this interview included entrepreneurship, his love for insects, and his struggle to promote insect-based food. This interview was an extraordinary encounter with this committed entomologist who has so much to teach the younger generations.

At 21 years old, Arnaud Côté Boisvert was the youngest participant in the 3rd edition of the Gaspésie International Raid (RIG). During this 4 day challenge, teams of adventurers must complete a 300km journey by running, swimming, and paddling. Arnaud and his teammate Pierre Poirier finished in 18th position out of 40 teams. Our Näak athlete, a smoke runner and trail runner, tells us about his first time participating in the RIG.

Bart Rolet, our Näak ambassador, has participated in the Word Triathlon Championships in Kona 3 times. Each time, he finished the race in under 10h, and he finished in 3rd place out of the French Canadians who participated in 2015. Coach Bart gives us his advice on the mythical race that brings the World's best athletes together every year in October for the longest triathlon distance.

Marc Flageole finished 2nd in his age category (45-49 years old) and 14th overall at Tremblant's 2016 IRONMAN, which means he qualified for the IRONMAN world championships in Kona. Marc is used to Kona, as he has already been 11 times. Next year, he is aiming for a top 5 in his age category. Marc tells us about his race in Tremblant, his progress in swimming this year, and gives us some tips for those of you would like to qualify for Kona one day.

Julie Gadreau waited two long years to do her first IRONMAN in Tremblant. Last year, a femoral fracture three weeks before her race forced her to drop out. After spending two months on crutches, and after a new stress fracture to her food in April, Julie finally completed her bet. On August 21st, 2016, she swam for 3.8km, cycled for 180km, and ran 42.2km in 12:14:18; finishing in 11th position in her age category (40-44 years old). A fine example of combativity and self-sacrifice. Julie tells us about her race.

Kathy Tremblay is a double Olympian and Pan Am Triathlon champion. On the eve of Montreal’s Triathlon International, Näak’s ambassador offers her valuable advice on how to perform on competition day.

Näak Kathy, how do you approach a race on a course you don’t know?

Kathy : The first thing to do is [...]

Once I landed in Montreal for the summer, I was met at the airport by my sister and, as we always do, recollected and shared what we had been up to the past six months, since we last saw one another. Finishing her penultimate semester at university, she described a multitude of experiences from case competitions to internships, but what sparked my interest was the startup environment in Montreal [...]