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Start-Up Success: Navigating Challenges & Crafting Cultivated Meat with Kasia, CTO of SCiFi Foods | Engineering Leadership

In this interview, Tracy Lee welcomes Kasia Gora, the CTO and co-founder of SCiFi Foods, a company working on making cultivated beef a viable alternative to conventional meat. Kasia explains that cultivated meat is the next generation of alternative meat that aims to provide a more genuine meat experience to meat eaters while being sustainable and cruelty-free. They discuss the environmental impact of beef production, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, and highlight the opportunity to use biotechnology to create meat without negative environmental consequences. Kasia mentions that their products have 90% less impact than conventional beef, as shown in a recently published Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

As the CTO, Kasia takes care of the research and development (R&D) capabilities at SCiFi Foods. They focus on engineering cell lines, cell culture, process development, and food science to create an affordable and high-quality cultivated meat product. Kasia mentions that they make genetic changes to the beef cells to enable cost-effective growth, as conventional methods are expensive. By leveraging genetic engineering and bioreactor technology, they aim to achieve cost parity with conventional beef.

Tracy asks about the taste and composition of their products compared to plant-based alternatives. Kasia explains that their products use animal cells as flavor ingredients mixed with soy protein, offering a meatier taste and a better meat experience than plant-based products alone. She emphasizes that while there is currently no cultivated meat on the market in the US, they aim to create a more sustainable and tastier option.

They briefly discuss the regulatory process and how SCiFi Foods conducts taste tests under informed consent while going through the approval procedures. Tracy mentions visiting the Jelly Belly factory and expresses her excitement about the possibility of visiting SCiFi Foods' facilities and participating in taste tests.

The conversation shifts to the challenges faced by startups in the current economic environment. Kasia mentions that while raising capital may be more difficult, startups should focus on internal decision-making skills, financial planning, and risk assessment. She advises startups to maximize their chances of success by making informed decisions, maintaining financial control, and adapting their plans to the changing landscape.

Tracy asks about thriving in this environment, and Kasia suggests focusing on strengthening internal teams and improving decision-making processes. She highlights the importance of gathering input from stakeholders, evaluating alternatives objectively, and creating alignment within the team. Kasia also emphasizes the significance of financial planning, accurate estimation of runway, and the agility to adapt plans based on new information.

They conclude the interview by discussing the role of strong teams in navigating challenging situations and how effective communication and collaboration can contribute to success. Kasia draws a parallel between relationships and startups, emphasizing the importance of healthy communication and problem-solving skills. They agree that stressful environments can highlight both strengths and weaknesses within a team, making it an opportunity for growth and improvement.

To watch the full conversation, check it out here.

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