Founded by Former Impossible Foods Scientist Dr. Mahsa Vazin, PawCo Aims to Provide High-Quality, Sustainable, and Scientifically Formulated Plant-Based Food for Dogs
SAN FRANCISCO, February 29, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PawCo Foods, a plant-based pet nutrition brand dedicated to providing high-quality, sustainable, and scientifically-formulated food for dogs, today announced a $2 million seed funding round led by Elevate Ventures, as well as other angel investors such as Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder of Dropbox. With this funding, PawCo will leverage its operations by opening a second production facility (a location in the midwest to complement its current facility in California). In addition, the brand will invest more in growth, research and development, new recipes and marketing tactics to drive awareness for the plant-based pet food category.
“The widespread adoption of plant-based foods has changed how we approach nutrition; however, there has been less change in this category when it comes to pet food,” said Christopher Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures. “We are excited about Mahsa’s vision, and background, to bring plant-based nutrition to pets by democratizing access to nutritious and eco-friendly pet food.”
Founded by Dr. Mahsa Vazin, a former scientist at Impossible Foods, PawCo is the first plant-based dog food company to use AI technology for nutrition optimization and palatability improvement. The company created the first fresh plant-based meat for dogs, GreenMeat™, which is used as the basis for all its products and recipes. Its main products include:
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InstaBites™, the first fresh shelf-stable, plant-based dog food tailored for convenience and affordability
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LuxBites™, a premium fresh dog food designed to improve gut health, boost immunity, and ensure optimal nutrient absorption
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GreenBites, the original recipe consisting of fresh frozen meals full of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, available in several flavors such as Peanut Butter & Apple or Blueberry & Veggies
“I’m excited to partner with Christopher and the team at Elevate Ventures as we embark on a major year for PawCo – through market expansion, new production facilities, and major product launches, we aim to strengthen the food category of plant-based pets,” said Dr. Mahsa Vazin, CEO and Founder of PawCo. “We look forward to growing and providing pet owners with healthy and nutritious options for their dogs, while also creating a product that is safer and more sustainable for the planet.”
Traditional dog foods that contain meat have been linked to many health issues in dogs, such as gastrointestinal distress, cancer, and allergies. PawCo offers a plant-based meat alternative that provides all the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids dogs need to thrive, without sacrificing flavor and taste. Born out of a gap in the market for healthy, plant-based alternatives for his dog, Dr. Vazin on a project that fills that space, while simultaneously improving pet health, reducing animal farming, and reducing the impact of pet food manufacturing on the environment.
To learn more about PawCo, please visit mypawco.com.
About PawCo
PawCo Foods is committed to its mission of improving pet health by providing them with nutritious plant-based food, while reducing animal agriculture and the environmental footprint of the pet food industry. The company was founded by Dr. Mahsa Vazin and started based on love and care for animals. By using AI for nutrition optimization and palatability improvement of its products, PawCo developed the first fresh, plant-based meat for dogs, GreenMeat™, which is used as the basis for their current products and recipes .
See the source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240229917765/en/
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