“What a lot of people don't quite understand about plant-based meat is that you have to understand the industry that you are replacing.” —Christie Lagally    The plant-based meat industry is at a pivotal moment, with innovative companies harnessing the power of technology to transform the way we think about sustainable protein. By seamlessly combining cutting-edge manufacturing processes and high-quality products, these visionaries are paving the way for a future where plant-based alternatives are not just viable, but the preferred choice for consumers, institutions, and the planet. At the forefront of this revolution is Christie Lagally, the CEO and Founder of Rebellyous Foods. A mechanical engineer by trade, Lagally has leveraged her expertise to develop game-changing technology that makes plant-based meat production faster, better, and more affordable than ever before. In this episode, Justine and Christie dive into the challenges of building a business around plant-based alternatives, developing the technology and market strategy to succeed, the impact of the hype cycle, funding challenges, addressing health concerns, and more.   Meet Christie:  Christie Lagally is the CEO and Founder of Rebellyous Foods, a manufacturing technology company working to make plant-based meat available and affordable for everyone. With a background as a mechanical engineer in the aerospace industry, Lagally transitioned to founding Rebellyous in 2017 to combine her personal values and professional expertise to address the negative impacts of industrial animal agriculture.  Under her leadership, Rebellyous has developed innovative processing equipment to produce high-quality, price-competitive plant-based meat products, with a focus on serving large-scale customers like school lunch programs.  Lagally is committed to creating a sustainable path forward for the meat industry to transition to plant-based production, driving positive change for the environment, human health, and animal welfare.   Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram  LinkedIn YouTube Episode Highlights: 05:01 Rebellyous Foods: Challenges and Early Development  13:05 The Hype Cycle and Its Impact 23:55 Health Concerns and Future Plans  35:06 Collaborations, Partnerships, and Exit Strategies  40:00 Future Opportunities