Tasneem Karodia Co-founder, NewForm Foods

Tasneem Karodia Co-founder, NewForm Foods

With her strong commitment to sustainability and keen business sense, she has been instrumental in driving the company’s mission to reshape the future of food.

NewForm Foods Forbes Africaleading plant-based innovation and providing nutritious and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional foods.

After just 18 months of rigorous research and development, they celebrated this important achievement with the launch of their first meatball, marking a major milestone for the company.

In this interview, she reflects on her journey from founding NewForm Foods to challenging the status quo in a male-dominated industry.

She discussed her experience speaking at COP28 in Dubai and shared valuable insights on the impact of innovation, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the vital role of women entrepreneurs in building a sustainable future.

What was the driving force behind co-founding NewForm Foods? How did your background shape your vision for the company?

I have always been passionate about sustainability, which is the driving force behind NewForm Foods.

My early consulting experience provided me with a solid foundation in building business processes that were instrumental in launching NewForm Foods. Our technology enables food manufacturers to produce and launch delicious, sustainable, and animal-friendly products and brands.

ANZ Capital invested in my company because they recognized our company’s potential to become a leader in the fast-growing alternative protein space, which is consistent with their commitment to sustainability and innovation.

They focus on supporting tech startups in Africa – in our case, a business in food tech, whose vision is to make delicious, nutritious, humanely grown food produced in sustainable, harm-free systems available to everyone.

As a woman navigating the alternative protein innovation space, what are the biggest challenges you’ve faced and how have they impacted your journey?

Naturally, I often found myself being asked to make coffee or make sure everyone was comfortable—because I was empathetic, intuitive, and observant. These traits sometimes got me talked down to, which meant I had to work harder to be taken seriously.

The historical underrepresentation of women in the entrepreneurial space also means there are fewer female role models who can inspire confidence among investors.

ANZ Capital For us, it is a strategic partner that not only provides financial support but also valuable expertise, connections and guidance to help NewForm Foods thrive in a competitive market environment.

In your leadership role at NewForm Foods, how do you promote innovation and inclusion, especially in a male-dominated industry?

I believe it is important to push boundaries and not shy away from challenges. I make sure to attend events and conversations to share my perspectives, with the goal of bringing more diversity to our team and ensuring a knock-on effect.

Which achievements or projects within the company are you most proud of? To what do you attribute their success?

We were creating something very technically challenging and our initial 18 months were focused on deep R&D which allowed us to successfully create a meatball that I could see, touch and taste – it was incredible to see the tangible results of our hard work firsthand.

“Going to COP28 in Dubai in December 2023 is amazing because it puts us on the world stage to showcase what we are doing and the impact we are trying to have. This success is due to the hard work of my team, and we wouldn’t be here without the combined efforts of all of us.”

For women looking to enter the food tech industry, what key advice would you give to help them thrive in this growing industry?

The industry is growing rapidly in all areas, and now is a great time to be in the field. My advice is to learn more about the industry, determine how you can leverage your current skills, and seek positions that match your expertise.

It is also important to find investors, such as ANZ CapitalActively investing in women entrepreneurs and building a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem with venture capital creators, incubators, accelerators and other entrepreneurial support organizations to lay the foundation for startups like ours to succeed.

The upcoming South African Innovation Summit in Cape Town on 19-20 September is one such opportunity to share our journey in developing sustainable plant-based meat alternatives that address environmental and health challenges.

What does Women’s Month mean to you?

I think it’s a good thing to celebrate women and bring more attention to issues that affect women. I look forward to a future where equality is more ingrained in our society and we celebrate women’s achievements and contributions every month.