PawCo Foods – a plant-based pet nutrition brand dedicated to providing high-quality, sustainable, and scientifically-formulated food for dogs – announced a $2 million seed funding round led by Elevate Ventures, and other angel investors such as Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder of Dropbox. And with this funding round, PawCo will scale its operations by opening a second production facility (a midwest location to complement its current facility in California). And the brand will further invest in growth, research and development, new recipes and marketing tactics to drive awareness for the plant-based pet food category.
Launched by Dr. Mahsa Vazin, a former scientist at Impossible Foods, PawCo is the first plant-based dog food company to utilize AI technology for nutrition optimization and palatability improvement. And the company created the first fresh plant-based meat for dogs, GreenMeat – which is used as the base for all of its products and recipes. Its core products include:
— InstaBites – The first fresh, shelf-stable, plant-based dog food tailored for convenience and affordability
— LuxBites – A premium fresh dog food designed to enhance gut health, boost immunity, and ensure optimal nutrient absorption
— GreenBites – The original recipe consisting of fresh frozen meals filled with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, available in several flavors like Peanut Butter & Apple or Blueberry & Veggies
Traditional dog foods with meat have been linked to numerous health issues in dogs, such as gastrointestinal distress, cancer, and allergies. And PawCo offers a plant-based meat alternative that provides all the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids dogs need to thrive without sacrificing taste and flavor. Born out of a gap in the market for healthy and plant-based alternatives for her dog, Dr. Vazin began working on a project that would fill that space, while simultaneously improving pet health, decreasing animal farming, and reducing the impact of pet food manufacturing on the environment.
KEY QUOTES:
“The widespread adoption of plant-based foods has changed how we approach nutrition; however, there has been less innovation in this category when it comes to pet food. 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.”
– Christopher Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures
“I’m excited to partner with Christopher and the team at Elevate Ventures as we embark on a major year for PawCo – through market expansions, new production facilities, and big product launches, we intend on solidifying the plant-based pet food category. We look forward to growing and providing pet owners with healthy and nutritious options for their dogs, while also creating a product that’s safer and more sustainable for the planet.”
– Dr. Mahsa Vazin, CEO and Founder of PawCo
