EP 299 – Conal is the founder of Mr. Bug, a revolutionary pet food company using insect protein.
We talk about Conal’s pivot from the music industry to starting an insect farm during lockdown, highlighting the sustainability and health benefits of insect-based pet food. We talk about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship in the pet food industry, the process of farming mealworms, and the potential of insects as a sustainable food source. We discuss the regulatory landscape, the importance of grants for innovation, and the societal barriers to accepting insects as food.
Conal also explains why government grant scheme’s frameworks qualify for the big bin of bullsh*t
Chapters:
00:00 BWB with Conal Cunningham
00:30 Diving Into the World of Insect Protein
02:48 From Lockdown Idea to Insect Farming
03:49 Efficiency and Sustainability of Mealworm Farming
08:05 The Future of Insect Consumption
11:57 Grants and Challenges of Insect Protein Production
13:44 Beyond Pet Food to Global Nutrition
19:49 The Complexities of Protein Sources
21:35 Preparing for a Plan B in a Changing World
23:09 The Financial Struggles of Bootstrapping
23:39 Raising Funds and Navigating Investment Schemes
24:30 Market Growth and Product Development
25:13 The Quirks of Pet Food Preferences
25:49 Insect-Based Diets: A Sustainable Future?
28:34 Addressing Industry Challenges and Innovations
32:40 The Irony of Animal Love and Consumption
34:27 Quickfire Round: Getting to Know Conal
36:45 Top Tips for Founders and Entrepreneurs
43:03 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
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