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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