Born in Soviet-era Moscow and now revolutionizing dairy without cows—this entrepreneur is reshaping New Zealand’s future.In this insightful episode, we speak with Irina Miller, founder of DaisyLab, a groundbreaking New Zealand startup utilizing precision fermentation to create dairy-identical proteins without cows. Irina’s remarkable journey begins in Soviet-era Moscow, spans entrepreneurship adventures, and culminates in her pioneering efforts to revolutionize the dairy industry sustainably.
Discover Irina's personal motivations behind DaisyLab, including her eye-opening experiences in Russia’s rapidly changing society, her initial reluctance towards entrepreneurship, and how her passion for animal welfare led to the creation of innovative dairy solutions. Gain unique perspectives on the future of food tech, animal welfare, and how DaisyLab aims to transform traditional dairy production globally.
Key Topics:
🧬 Precision Fermentation Technology
🥛 Disrupting Traditional Dairy Production
🌍 Sustainable Food Innovation
🐄 Animal Welfare and Ethics🇳🇿 Entrepreneurship in New Zealand
🛠️ Scaling a Deep Tech Startup
📈 Challenges of Funding Innovation
🌱 Veganism and Future of Protein
🧪 Biotech and Synthetic Biology
🤝 Collaborating with Traditional Industries
🤝 Connect with Irina Miller:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/🌱-irina-miller-85449b8/
Website: https://www.daisylab.co.nz
🔗 Learn more about NZVC:
Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nz
Mark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/
Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Irina’s Background
01:30 - DaisyLab’s Revolutionary Dairy Tech
04:01 - Growing Up in Soviet-Era Moscow
11:03 - Studying Abroad in the US
16:31 - Moving to New Zealand
27:24 - Career & Transition to Entrepreneurship
30:02 - Inspiration for DaisyLab
34:12 - Precision Fermentation Explained
42:00 - Challenges in Protein Production
48:03 - DaisyLab’s Startup Journey
54:58 - Dairy Industry Collaboration
1:01:34 - Animal Welfare & Veganism
1:08:39 - The Future of Alternative Proteins
1:11:32 - New Zealand’s Biotech Opportunity
1:14:11 - Advice for Moving to New Zealand
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