Better for Pets, Animals and the Planet - Because Animals

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shannon Falconer, CEO of Because Animals, located in Vienna, Austria.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a food biotechnology company making cultured meat for pet food. Cultured meat is not a meat alternative; cultured meat is meat that is made in an alternative way. Our customers are generally animal lovers looking to feed themselves and their pets foods that are more environmentally sustainable and humane.

Tell us about yourself

I created this product because I want to buy it! I grew up with cats and dogs and stopped eating meat in my early teens. I've been a volunteer with various animal rescue organizations throughout my adult life, but I am a biochemist professionally. While working as a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, I decided to leave my academic career to apply my scientific training to take animals out of the supply chain. And that was the beginning of Because Animals!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

For me, there isn't a single biggest accomplishment. What is most important to me, though, is the process of stringing together all the baby steps that will eventually amount to a cultured meat-based pet food product that will displace slaughtered animal meat-based pet food.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

The sleepless nights.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I have only one tip: before you start a company, ask yourself what your backup plan is. If your answer isn't "I have no backup plan, this is going to work!" then you shouldn't start a business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://becauseanimals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becauseanimals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becauseanimals/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/becauseanimals
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/becauseanimals/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.