Cerdanya entrepreneur scales 3D-printed ant nest business globally

Anna Patxot runs Fourmis Shop from la Tor de Querol, exporting specialized terrariums to Japan and Canada.

Generic image of a 3D printer working in a design workshop.
IA

Generic image of a 3D printer working in a design workshop.

Entrepreneur Anna Patxot Bertran is leading a unique niche market from Cerdanya, manufacturing 3D-printed ant nests for international clients in Japan, Singapore, and Europe through her company Fourmis Shop.

Based in a municipal facility in la Tor de Querol, the 29-year-old engineer produces around twenty terrariums daily. After living in London and Scotland, Patxot settled in the Pyrenees two years ago to develop this project, which caters to a hobby that generates millions of euros worldwide.

"You just have to assemble the pieces and the nest is done. It is like a Lego set."

Anna Patxot · Founder of Fourmis Shop
The business offers over a hundred references, including specialized food and accessories. Beyond commercial success, Patxot aims to collaborate with local schools in Cerdanya to teach children about the complex social organization and biological importance of ant colonies.