Origin Story Interview W/ Leah Bessa, De Novo Dairy

Origin Story Interview W/ Leah Bessa, De Novo Dairy

Brighter Future

 / 

Jan 25, 2023

#BrighterFuture #entrepreneurship #Sustainability #ClimateChangeSolution #originstoryseries #seekthechange #PrecisionFermentation #AnimalFreeProteins #FoodInnovation #NutritionRevolution #sustainableprotein

Brighter Future

We have the pleasure of talking with Dr. Leah Bessa, co-founder of De Novo Dairy, who creates animal-free proteins for human consumption using precision fermentation.

Thank you, Leah, for taking the time to talk with us today. Could you please introduce yourself and your business?

My name is Leah Bessa, and I'm the CSO and co-founder of De Novo Dairy. De Novo Dairy is using the power of precision fermentation to beat nature at its own game by producing nature-identical nutritious proteins more effectively and animal-free.

That sounds interesting and quite complex. What was your background before starting this business?

I was born and raised in South Africa, lucky enough to have spent most of my life growing up in beautiful Cape Town. I wanted to be a vet from a young age. When I finally went to vet school, within my first year, I faced the harsh reality that I didn't have the stomach for it. So, I moved into Food Science in my second year because I was intrigued by the possibilities. It wasn't until my final year of studying that I finally felt a passion for product development and wanted to investigate underutilised food sources. I pursued my Master’s and PhD in Food Science, exploring the potential of insects to replace meat in Vienna sausages and burger patties.

That's quite a change from veterinary to Food science, but one which has helped pave the way to starting your business. That must have been fascinating, looking at the possibility of insects replacing meat. How did this lead to the conception of De Novo Dairy?

During my PhD, I realised how much I loved researching and finding new ways of creating sustainable foods. I met an old friend, Jean, over coffee one day. After chatting about the impact this could have commercially, we started our first company Gourmet Grubb in 2016. It was in 2021 that we pivoted out of insects into precision fermentation, a technology we thought we would out-compete what we had at Gourmet Grubb. Through a mutual friend, we met Joni and Richard, who were working on something similar in Johannesburg. After one call and an in-person meeting, we started a company together - De Novo Dairy.

Who exactly are you doing this for, and why should they care?

We're doing this for people; our food system has many problems, but the one thing we haven't managed to get right is equitable nutrition. But honestly, we mostly do it for the animals and the planet. As stewards of our earth, we are responsible for creating a better way of farming and consuming our food.

A clear message: we should all play a part in creating a better environment and looking after the Earth. What would you say is the most fulfilling part of your work?

I love creating new things and watching the vision we are pushing for evolve every day. I find it very fulfilling to create my own future and be a part of something that will shape the future of food. I'm excited about our impact on people and the planet.

What was the pivotal moment that made you change direction in your career?

I was working for a corporate company in the product development department. Up until this point, I always saw myself in product development, but it wasn't until I worked at a corporate company, I realised that a corporate company wasn't for me. I wanted to make an impact or a difference in the food space and I had the opportunity to go back and continue my studies in pursuing climate-friendly protein alternatives. At the same time as starting my PhD, I started a company with Jean called Gourmet Grubb, where we developed the world's first dairy alternative from insects. While this was a bold start to entrepreneurship, I learnt a lot, and it paved the way for co-founding De Novo Dairy a few years later.

What life experience gave you the perspective and confidence to come up with something different (or better) than what is currently out there?

I think it's a bit more of a personality type. I've always done things slightly differently, and since I was young, I've always asked 'why' (yes, I was a why child), and annoyingly I still am. I question why or how things are done and don't always accept the reason at face value. So, if I think there's a new and potentially better way to do it, I investigate it.

It's a great attribute to have. To question why and keep learning, and constantly look for answers. That's how people achieve great things. As with any start-up business, there must have been challenges. What challenges have you faced or mistakes that you have made?

Hiring the right people is a big challenge. In our previous company, we made the mistake of hiring someone without getting to know them very well. They had great technical skills but did not fit in with the company culture, which caused a lot of harm. The lesson is to take your time when hiring and focus on hard and soft skills. It is just as important to consider how a potential hire will fit in with your existing team and whether they will be comfortable in the company culture. By finding the right person for the job, you can ensure that everyone works well together and create an environment of success.

Having the right team is crucial to achieving the end goal. Have you had any 'Aha' moments that were vital to your journey?

We talked with a dairy company in Spain about a protein we had often encountered. The concentration of this protein is higher in dairy, so you tend to overlook it. They were talking about many of the challenges they have with this protein. Our technology could solve that very easily and at a reduced cost to what they're paying in the market.

So, I think that was our biggest 'Aha' moment. It was a very casual conversation, and when we ended the call, we all agreed that's our protein! We pivoted quite quickly into this new protein, which we're really excited about, and we think our technology is perfect.

What were the biggest compromises or sacrifices you made to get to where you are now?

I think in terms of compromises, what I find challenging is the financial aspect. Most people typically go into corporate or into something quite well-established. They start with a good financial foundation because they're working, have set times off, the weekends are theirs, and so on. I studied, and I was working at the same time for the start-up. Therefore, I had to make a lot of financial sacrifices. When starting a company, you need to put the company first, so your earning potential is not the same. But you're doing it because if it succeeds, you'll be in a better financial position. So, when you start, it's always a risk – it might not pan out.

So, financially you take a lot of risks and make a lot of compromises. I think timewise, as well, because you don't have the same amount of freedom. You're so motivated to push it to get it to work, but you end up working on weekends and holidays; you're just always online. Downtime is rare, and this is definitely a compromise. But I think it also depends on the kind of person you are. When you're an entrepreneur, you thrive with that, but it's a sacrifice and compromise at the same time. You have to learn to prioritise, especially when you're building something that needs your constant attention.

You are right. With most start-ups, your heart and soul go into it; all hours of the day, every day of the week, to achieve its full potential. How do you envision the future?

I find this one difficult to answer because I don't think it will be clear-cut. I think it's going to be very different. My hope for the future is that people aren't as siloed as no one thinks there's one solution. But in reality, problems are very complex, and you need a lot of solutions. I think the future is going to be very diverse in that you need a lot of different crops, and you need a lot of protein alternatives. I don't think there's going to be one fix. I also hope the future becomes more collaborative because that's how you will fix everything.

Having talked to many like-minded businesses, collaboration seems to be key to working towards solving these problems. Along your journey, have any books, movies, speeches, or people inspired you?

I like Elon Musk. I wouldn't say he's an idol, but I admire how he doesn't take 'no' for an answer and forges ahead to achieve the things he sets out to do.

If you could give some words of advice, what would you say to a young entrepreneur just starting out?

I've always loved the philosophy of Jeff Bezos, where he says you should be stubborn about your vision but flexible on the details. I think you start a company with a very fixed set of ideas and plans, but to make a success of it, you need to adapt to the evolving set of information that you are faced with. It is important to keep asking questions, learning and adjusting your strategy/approach while focusing on what you want to achieve (your vision).

If you could share one lasting message with the world, what would it be?

We are all consumers, and we should never underestimate our power as consumers. We drive demand, and every purchasing decision will shape the future of what manufacturers make. So, we don't all have to start companies to make a change. We can all make a difference with each purchase we make.

Thank you so much, Leah, for taking the time to talk with us today. We wish you all the best at De Novo Dairy for the exciting future ahead.

If you would like to find out more about Leah and De Novo Dairy, you can find them at: www.denovodairy.com

To stay up to date with our latest content and interviews, subscribe to the Brighter Future newsletter.

Facebook sharing IconTwitter sharing IconPinterest sharing IconWhatsApp sharing IconLinkedin sharing Icon

Join our Newsletter.

Want valuable insights from some of the world’s most successful planet-driven founders? Join our Origin Story newsletter. Each one of our Origin Story interviews dives deep into the mind of a planet-driven founder, reveals insights about their company’s DNA, and investigates how they’ve built a successful business.

BY ENTERING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU AGREE TO BE ADDED YOU TO OUR MAILING LIST.

Let’s Tell Your Story.

Book call

Your Vision, Our Mission.

Book call

Building a Strong Data Room for Investors & Shareholders

Mastering Your Monthly Startup Investor Updates: A Ready-to-Use Template

Why Many Climate and Impact Startups Fail (And What You Can Do About It)

Branding Is the Strategic Foundation (and Why Marketing Should Come After)‍

How Design by Committee Kills Creativity: Insights for Companies Undergoing Rebranding

How to Drive Growth and Impact Through Storytelling

A Vision Story - Why You Need It and How You Craft It

The Core of Connection: Telling Your Purpose Story

‍Mastering Customer Insights: The Quick-Path Method to Developing Customer Personas

Investor Spotlight: Tim Hoerr, Serra Ventures

Investor Spotlight: Tom Rand, ArcTern Ventures

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Nick Cooney, Lever VC

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Danny Brown, MaC Venture Capital

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Josep Oriol, Okavango Capital

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Michael Dean, AgFunder

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Jonny Everett, Marble

The Evolution and Impact of Science Communication

Investor Spotlight Interview W/ Myke Näf, Übermorgen Ventures

Investor Spotlight Series Interview W/ Anthony Chow, Agronomics

Breaking the Mold: Impossible Foods' Bold Approach to Plant-Based Marketing

Investor Spotlight Series w/ Nick Lyth, Green Angel Ventures

Origin Story Interview W/ Manuel Seiffe, MPower

Origin Story Interview W/ Aarav Chavda, INVERSA Leathers

Origin Story Interview W/ Florian Tiller, Ucaneo

Origin Story Interview W/ Richard Hardiman, RanMarine

Origin Story Interview W/ Johnny Drain, Win-Win

A Lesson from Patagonia on Developing Brand Values

Origin Story Interview W/ David Henstrom, Unibio

Origin Story Interview W/ Steffen Gerlach, Eeden

Origin Story Interview W/ Kevin Webb, Superorganism

An Origin Story - Why You Need It And How To Craft It

Origin Story Interview W/ Dustin Bowers, PLAEX

Origin Story Interview W/ John Vermilye, Fair Carbon

Origin Story Interview W/ Thibaut Monfort-Micheo, FlexSea

Origin Story Interview W/ Andrew Behar, As You Sow

Origin Story Interview W/ Ruben Smit, Sunrise

Origin Story Series W/ Deepak Rajmohan, GreenPod Labs

Origin Story Interview W/ Christopher McClure, Loki Foods

Narratives of Change: Crafting Identity through Founder and Organisational Storytelling

Origin Story Interview W/ Emmanuel Briquet, Searen

How to Use an Origin and Vision Story to Attract Investors

The Power of Storytelling: How Climate Activists Drive Meaningful Change

Transforming IPCC Narratives for Global Climate Awareness

Origin Story Interview W/ Hannes Junginger, Carbonfuture

Origin Story Interview W/ David Monnier, Fonto de Vivo

Origin Story Interview W/ Tim Steppich, ClimateU

Origin Story Interview W/ Mark Driscoll, Tasting the Future

Origin Story Interview W/ Kalle Nilvér, GoClimate

Origin Story Interview W/ Marina Schmidt, Red to Green

Origin Story Interview W/ Christoph Pitter, ProteinDistillery

Origin Story Interview W/ Antonella De Lazzari, Naturannova

Origin Story Interview W/ Dijana Galijasevic, Impact Hero

Origin Story Interview W/ Anastasia Kiku, Reusables

Origin Story Interview W/ Nathan Bonnisseau, Plan A

Origin Story Interview W/ Ryan Kushner, Third Derivative

Origin Story Interview W/ Philipp Arbter, Colipi

Origin Story Interview W/ Thibault Sorret, ERS

Origin Story Interview W/ Csaba Hetényi, Plantcraft

Origin Story Interview W/ Rhea Singhal, Ecoware

Origin Story Interview W/ Joel Tasche, CleanHub

Origin Story Interview W/ Jennifer Cote, Opalia

Origin Story Interview W/ Allen Himes, Indigo Energy

Origin Story Interview W/ Emily Taylor, SAGES

Origin Story Interview W/ Aaron Schaller, MeliBio

Origin Story Interview W/ Clover Hogan, Force of Nature

Origin Story Interview W/ Bernard de Wit, Regreener

Origin Story Interview W/ Wolfgang Baum, Fairventures Worldwide gGmbH

Origin Story Interview W/ Anne Therese Gennari, The Climate Optimist

Origin Story Interview W/ Frederique De Clercq, Fred's Mayo

Origin Story Interview W/ Dimitry Gershenson, Enduring Planet

Origin Story Interview W/ David Cutler, Fortuna Cools

Origin Story Interview w/ Auriane Borremans, The Butcher's Daughter & Eatention

Origin Story Interview w/ Will Wiseman, Climatize

Origin Story Interview w/ Todd Khozein, SecondMuse

Origin Story Interview w/ Ryan Hagen, Crowdsourcing Sustainability

Origin Story Interview w/ Noor, Project CECE

Origin Story Interview w/ Shobhita Soor, Legendary Foods

Origin Story Interview W/ Yvonne Jamal, JARO Institute for Sustainability and Digitalization

Origin Story Interview w/ Paul Shapiro, The Better Meat Co.

Origin Story Interview W/ Topher White, Rainforest Connection & Squibbon

Origin Story Interview W/ Felipe Krelling, NewBio

Origin Story Interview W/ Samuel Wines, Co-Labs Australia

Origin Story Interview W/ Mirjam Walser, The Vegan Business School

Origin Story Interview W/ Walid Al Saqqaf, Rebalance Earth

Origin Story Interview W/ Ana Rosa de Lima, Meli Bees

Origin Story Interview W/ Maya Ashkenazi, Maolac

Origin Story Interview W/ Vanessa Westphal, Choosy

Origin Story Interview W/ Leah Bessa, De Novo Dairy

Origin Story Interview W/ Jasmin Shaikh, Axia Foods

Origin Story Interview W/ Roee Nir, Forsea

Origin Story Interview W/ Simone Köchli, Loopi

Origin Story Interview W/ Harald Neidhardt, Futur/io

Origin Story Interview W/ Karsten Hirsch, Plastic Fischer

Origin Story Interview W/ Antoinette Vermilye, Gallifrey Foundation

Origin Story Interview W/ Roman Laus, Mewery

Origin Story Interview W/ Louisa Burman, Sustainability & B Corp Consultant

Origin Story Interview W/ Alfredo Seidemann, Viatu

Origin Story Interview W/ Insa Mohr, Mooji Meats

Origin Story Interview W/ Björn Öste, Oatly & Good Idea Drinks

Origin Story Interview W/ Brett Thompson, Newform Foods (Formerly Mzansi Meat Co.)