Jasmin Hume

Real talk, let me break down Jasmin Hume, this girl’s the real deal in the food biotech world. So, she’s a YC S19 alum, which means she crushed it early on with her startup Shiru, a biotech company that’s using AI and machine learning to cook up sustainable, super functional proteins for the food biz. Basically, she’s trying to change how we eat, making plant-based and alternative proteins mainstream and eco-friendly. And no cap, Shiru just got named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024, that’s huge.

But her process? It’s even more lit. Jasmin’s got a serious science background. She did her PhD in protein engineering at NYU, then an MSc in materials engineering from Chalmers, and a BEng in chemical engineering from McGill. She’s been deep in the lab, working at places like STMicroelectronics and BenchPals, and even led food chemistry at JUST (you know, Eat Just). She’s all about pushing the boundaries of food science and sustainability.

Before jumping into her startup hustle, she dipped her toes in venture capital as a summer associate at Lux Capital. That’s where she learned how to fundraise and scale startups, which she’s clearly good at now. Plus, she mentors at XFactor Ventures, focusing on climate tech and deep tech, basically helping other founders crush it too.

Her story screams motivation. She’s not just in it for the tech; she cares about the planet, fighting climate change, and democratizing science through AI. She’s a polyglot, a mom of two, and brings a global perspective to everything she does. Her background in biomedicine, materials, and food science shows she’s got a super versatile mind, always jumping into new fields to make a bigger impact.

Long story short, Jasmin Hume is one of those founders who’s not just building a company but trying to fix huge problems, food security, sustainability, environmental health, all while pushing the tech envelope. She’s a scientist turned entrepreneur who’s genuinely making waves, and honestly, I think she’s just getting started.