The Hidden Strategy Behind Better Meat with Paul Shapiro

🥩 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 83 🥩 What if the future of meat isn't replacing it, but making it better? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, Justin Dixon sits down with Paul Shapiro, Co-founder & CEO of The Better Meat Co., a food technology company pioneering the use of mycelium to create healthier, more sustainable, and more affordable meat products. After spending years as a lobbyist for animal welfare, Paul leaped into entrepreneurship to tackle one of humanity's biggest challenges: feeding a growing population with limited resources. From startup fundraising and IP battles to category creation and AI-powered innovation, Paul shares the lessons he's learned building a deep-tech company at the intersection of food, science, and sustainability. 🔍 What you'll learn: • Why The Better Meat Co. focuses on improving meat, and not replacing it • The business case for microbial agriculture • How startups can "minimize the number of miracles" they need to perform • Lessons from raising venture capital and surviving years of IP litigation • How AI is helping accelerate innovation in food manufacturing • Why mycelium could become an entirely new food category 🚀 Whether you're a founder, investor, operator, or simply curious about the future of food, this episode offers valuable insights on innovation, scaling, and building companies that create lasting impact. 📩 Learn more about The Better Meat Co. at https://www.bettermeat.co/ 👉 Like, subscribe, and leave a comment: What emerging technology do you believe will reshape an entire industry over the next decade?