Myra Arshad

Look, here’s the real scoop on Myra Arshad – straight-up badass in the startup world. This girl’s story is all about passion for real change and never settling for bullshit. So, she’s the CEO and co-founder of ALT TEX, a Toronto-based biotech startup that’s trying to totally flip how we make fabrics. Think biodegradable, carbon-neutral fabric made from food waste. Yeah, food waste! Instead of polluting landfills or pumping out microplastics, her fabric is stronger than cotton, eco-friendly as hell, and helps fight climate change.

Her process kicked off with a solid background – she’s been around the block. Before jumping into ALT TEX, she was in sales and marketing at Procter & Gamble, which is no joke – that’s some serious corporate grind. She’s also dabbled in stuff like Fluidic, a women’s empowerment social enterprise, so she’s always been into making a real impact. She got her business degree from Schulich in 2018, and then in 2020, she jumped all in on this crazy idea with her co-founder Avneet Ghotra.

And man, did they crush it. Starting in the middle of the pandemic, they raised over $3 million, including backing from Y Combinator in S22, which is basically the gold standard for startups. Plus, they won H&M’s Global Change Award in 2023 – that’s a huge deal because it’s about more than just funding, it’s about grabbing the world’s attention and having an effect.

What really drives Myra? It’s clear she’s all about solving real problems – reducing CO2 emissions, stopping microplastics from polluting our waterways, and making fashion sustainable without sacrificing strength or quality. Every shirt made from her fabric diverts 1 kilo of food waste and keeps 4 grams of microplastics out of the ocean. That’s not just startup talk – that’s real impact, and she’s doing it from a place of genuine motivation to make the planet better.

So, what’s the vibe? Myra’s process shows she’s a true believer that startups can be tools for huge change. She’s not in it just to make money, but to create stuff that matters. She’s a perfect example of how combining corporate experience, a passion for social impact, and a relentless hustle can turn into something significant. No Cap – she’s the real deal, pushing the boundaries and showing us all that tech and sustainability can go hand in hand.