4 questions with Mzansi co-founder Tasneem Karodia

After being announced at 1 of 5 finalists at the Vegan Women’s Summit pitch competition recently, Tasneem is preparing to pitch in front of an investor panel for a shot at $50 000 and a sponsored trip to The Vegan Women Summit 2023 in New York City in May 2023. In the lead up to the pitch this week, Tas stopped by for a quick Q&A.

Congrats on being announced as 1 of 5 finalists at the VWS Pathfinder! What was your reaction to the announcement?

Being chosen out of hundreds of applicants is an absolute honour. I’m really excited to be featured amongst some of the most incredible and accomplished women in the industry.

What is your vision for the future?

My vision is to displace conventional meat which is why I’m working to make cultivated meat available in grocery stores so that more people have the choice of meat, made better.

How does winning the VWS Pathfinder pitch competition impact that vision?

Winning this competition will allow us to drive our business forward on a global stage so that we further our mission of displacing conventional meat by building better food systems.

What is your message to other female entrepreneurs wanting to break out in this space?

The industry is growing and we need more people from all disciplines and backgrounds to join and fight the good fight! It’s truly an exciting time for alternative proteins, especially given the rate of growth over the last 5 years. Diversity breeds innovation which is exactly what we need to get the best products to market. I encourage all women who are thinking about starting a company or joining the foodtech space — start now because although the journey isn’t easy, it’s rewarding to see your vision slowly but surely take shape. I’m excited to see more female entrepreneurs in the future.

You can sign up for free tickets to watch Tas pitching and find out who wins on November 4th! Visit vwspathfinder.com for details.