PUTTING A HEALTHY SPIN ON A POPULAR SNACK
PUTTING A HEALTHY SPIN ON A POPULAR SNACK
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WANT SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
MULEI MAO
Mulei Mao is working on creating a healthier version of the snack most moviegoers love to devour by the handful.
The third-year University of Waterloo mechatronics engineering student has developed a seasoned plant-based protein product from water meal protein, which he’s added to popcorn.
Mulei said his various toppings are flavourful as well as a more nutritious and less fatty alternative to butter and oils.
His snack is intended to cater to health-conscious consumers and contribute to a more sustainable food industry.
While he is years away from commercializing his product, Mulei said the feedback received from samples provided to Waterloo students has been positive.
“People like the idea of a snack that has protein instead of just empty calories and tastes great,” he said. “They also care about climate change and want to support sustainable products.”
Mulei’s research initially focused on the environmental impact and economic feasibility of next-generation bioethanol made from duckweed. He pivoted to his current project mainly because he loves food and is allergic to whey protein found in many plant-based snacks.
His entrepreneurial drive was recognized with the Adam Weiss Community Leadership Award, made possible by a donation from the Weiss Family.
The $6,000 award supports student entrepreneurship at Waterloo and encourages students to follow their passions in the startup community. Selection is based on academic excellence along with leadership in extracurricular roles and/or community volunteer activities.
Grateful to receive the award, Mulei used the money to pay for living expenses.
“It helped offset food and housing, especially since my rent increased," he said. “It also let me focus on school and my business since I didn’t have to worry about money to pay for necessities.”
Actively involved in Waterloo's startup ecosystem, Mulei is part of United College's GreenHouse social incubator, Velocity Digital and Velocity Science. He has earned several prizes, including first place for his team’s pitch in the Velocity Campus Climate Change Hackathon.
As president of Tron Mentor Chats, a mechatronics engineering peer mentorship group, Mulei enjoys providing lower-year students with assistance and advice, just as he was when he first started.
“I appreciate all the help my mentor gave me when I was in my first year. She answered my burning questions about co-op, searching for a job and much more,” he said. “I’m happy to be returning the favour by helping others.”
Learn about Velocity's on-campus entrepreneurship programs.
