Plant Powered Pets: Interview with Dr. Mahsa Vazin, Founder of PawCo Foods

Barking Mad

In this episode of the Barking Mad, Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler interview Dr. Mahsa Vazin, founder of Pawco Foods, a company pioneering plant-based dog food. Mahsa discusses her unique journey from a Persian upbringing that emphasized meat and fear of animals to becoming a vegetarian and a pet food innovator with the mission to create sustainable, nutritious, and cruelty-free food for dogs.

The conversation covers:

• Challenges of developing “Green Meat”
• Leveraging AI for product optimization
• Importance of sustainability in pet welfare

Tune in to learn more about the burgeoning plant-based pet food market and Mahsa's passion for positively impacting the environment and pet health.

Links:

PawCo Website: https://www.mypawco.com/

Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Vegan Dog Diets and Dr. Mahsa Vazin

01:33 - Mahsa's Journey to Plant-Based Diets

02:57 - The Birth of PawCo and Its Mission

03:44 - Understanding Vegan vs. Healthy Pet Food

05:41 - PawCo's Target Audience and Market Demand

07:15 - Pioneering Plant-Based Meat for Dogs

08:30 - Core Values and the Future of Sustainable Food

09:22 - Winning Over the Rally In-Prize Pitch Competition Judges

10:51 - Big Funding = Big Plans for Expansion

11:31 - Leveraging AI for Innovation

12:45 - Perfecting the Palatability of Plant-Based Meat for Dogs

15:06 - The Secret to Mahsa and PawCo's Success

15:54 - Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

17:08 - Mahsa's Dream of a Cruelty-Free World

17:46 - Unwinding from PawCo (The Job) with Paco (The Dog)

18:51 - Mahsa's Greatest Achievement So Far

19:17 - Conclusion and Farewell