Transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship, Nicole Kleger co-founded Sallea, a startup focused on pioneering sustainable solutions in the cultivated meat industry, driven by her passion for impactful science.

Nicole Kleger transitioned from academic research to entrepreneurship, co-founding the startup Sallea to create scaffolds for cultivated meat, focusing on sustainability and ethical food production. Her shift from a Ph.D. at ETH Zurich to starting Sallea reflects her passion for making a tangible impact through science. Nicole also highlights the role of ETH Zurich, emphasizes the importance of meaningful work, particularly in addressing environmental challenges through food tech innovation. Balancing her personal life with her professional responsibilities, she finds energy and well-being through sports. Sallea's mission is to push boundaries in the male-dominated food tech industry, aiming to inspire more women to join the field.

This is her story.

The podcast mentioned in this episode:

• Kopf voran, SRF

Chapters

(00:23) Meet Nicole Kleger: Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of sallea

(00:59) Balancing Life: Sports, Family, and Career

(02:20) The Journey to sallea: From PhD to Startup

(05:12) Building the Team: Finding the Right Co-Founders

(06:33) Fundraising Challenges and Market Analysis

(12:18) From MedTech to Food Tech: Choosing the Right Path

(14:40) Understanding Scaffolding in Cultivated Meat

(17:43) Ecological and Ethical Impacts of Cultivated Meat

(19:42) The Role of ETH Foundation and Future Plans

(20:44) Closing Thoughts and Personal Insights