#73 Edan Wolk - Building VEGAIN & Rethinking Plant-Based Protein

What does it take to build a successful vegan sports nutrition brand? In this episode, I'm joined by Edan Wolk, co-founder and CEO of VEGAIN and co-owner of The Grind Cafe in Vancouver, to talk about entrepreneurship, plant-based sports nutrition, and the future of vegan protein. Edan shares his journey to a plant-based lifestyle, the story behind launching VEGAIN, why the company's first product was a vegan mass gainer, and the inspiration for their innovative clear protein, which is a protein powder that fully dissolves in water and drinks more like an electrolyte beverage than a traditional protein shake. We also discuss some of the most common questions and misconceptions surrounding vegan protein, what it's like running a vegan café, and which plant-based milks coffee drinkers tend to enjoy most when transitioning from dairy. In this episode, we discuss: • Edan's journey to a plant-based lifestyle • The story behind starting VEGAIN • Why the vegan mass gainer was their first product • VEGAIN's new clear protein and how it differs from traditional protein powders • Common misconceptions about vegan protein sources • Owning and operating a vegan café • The plant-based milks that work best in coffee About Edan Edan Wolk is a serial entrepreneur and longtime vegan who co-founded VEGAIN to challenge the status quo in sports nutrition. With a prior CPG exit and deep expertise in brand building, he has helped shape VEGAIN into a bold, performance-driven brand. As CEO, he leads operations, supply chain, and commercialization, scaling innovation from concept to market. Learn more about VEGAIN and The Grind Cafe on their website vegain.ca and Instagrams @vegain.ca and @thegrindvancouver. Interested in learning more about plant-based nutrition? This September, I'll be teaching my 15-hour Plant-Based Nutrition course through Pacific Rim College. Although it's an elective within the Holistic Nutrition program, it's open to everyone. If you enjoy diving into the science behind plant-based nutrition, this course is designed like a traditional college class with lectures, quizzes, activities, and plenty of opportunities to deepen your understanding. Registration isn't open just yet, but if you'd like to be notified when it is, feel free to email me and I'll add you to the notification list. ____________________________________________________________________ Work With Me: If you're ready to go plant-based or already are and want to feel more confident about your nutrition, I offer private consultations with personalized, evidence-based guidance. No overwhelm, just clarity. Book your free 15-minute discovery call at synergynutrition.ca ___________________________________________________________________ Vegan Boss Resources: 🛒 Supplements: 100% vegan, carefully curated and 10% off everything, always. Visit my Online Store. Ships across Canada. 👕 Apparel: Wear the message. Shop Vegan Boss Apparel and follow @veganbossapparel on Instagram. 🎧 Enjoying the show? Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review, it genuinely helps more people find the podcast. ____________________________________________________________________ About Your Host: Shawna Barker is a nutritionist with a BSc. in Nutrition and has been vegan since 2002. With over 14 years of experience, she brings evidence-based insights to help you build a plant-based life that actually works for you. 📩 DM me anytime on Instagram @vegan_boss