daring
daring is a company.
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Financial History
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Leadership Team
Key people at daring.
daring is a company.
Key people at daring.
Key people at daring.
# High-Level Overview
Based on the search results, "daring" refers to multiple entities, but the most prominent is daring, a plant-based food company that manufactures clean plant-based chicken products.[3] Founded in 2018 by Ross Mackay and Eliott Kessas, daring entered the U.S. market in 2020 with a mission to create sustainable, delicious, and nutritious alternatives to conventional chicken protein.[3] The company offers frozen plant-based chicken pieces designed for consumers who eat chicken multiple times weekly, positioning itself as a leader in the clean plant-based chicken category.[3]
Daring recently closed an $8 million Series A funding round, demonstrating investor confidence in its growth trajectory and market opportunity.[3] The company's investors include mission-driven venture capital firms such as Maveron (founded by Dan Levitan and Howard Schultz), Good Friends (founded by the creators of Warby Parker, Harry's, and Allbirds), and Stray Dog Capital, a firm dedicated to alternatives to animal-based supply chains.[3] This investor composition reflects daring's alignment with broader trends in sustainable food systems and alternative proteins.
# Origin Story
Daring was founded in 2018 by Ross Mackay and Eliott Kessas with an explicit goal: to remove chicken as a form of animal protein from the food system.[3] The founders recognized a significant market opportunity—consumers who regularly eat chicken but lack compelling plant-based alternatives that match taste, texture, and convenience. The company launched in the U.S. in 2020, bringing its frozen plant-based chicken pieces to American consumers seeking sustainable protein options without sacrificing the eating experience they expect from traditional chicken products.[3]
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Daring operates within the rapidly expanding alternative protein sector, riding the wave of consumer demand for sustainable food options and corporate commitments to reduce animal agriculture. The timing is favorable: major food companies and investors are increasingly backing plant-based alternatives as climate concerns, animal welfare awareness, and supply chain vulnerabilities drive both consumer preference and capital allocation toward alternative proteins.[3] By securing backing from established consumer venture firms like Maveron and Good Friends—investors with proven track records in scaling consumer brands—daring benefits from networks and expertise that can accelerate distribution and market penetration.
The company's focus on plant-based chicken specifically addresses a critical gap: while plant-based beef and dairy alternatives have gained traction, chicken alternatives remain underdeveloped despite chicken being the most-consumed meat globally. This positions daring to influence how the alternative protein ecosystem evolves, particularly in demonstrating that plant-based poultry can achieve mainstream adoption.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Daring's $8 million Series A positions it for scaled production and expanded distribution, likely targeting retail partnerships and foodservice channels where plant-based chicken can reach mainstream consumers. The company's success will depend on achieving price parity with conventional chicken while maintaining product quality—a challenge that has historically limited alternative protein adoption. With backing from investors who understand consumer brand scaling, daring has the resources and network to potentially become a category leader in plant-based poultry.
The broader trajectory suggests that as alternative proteins mature and consumer acceptance deepens, companies like daring that focus on specific protein categories with strong product-market fit will outpace generalist plant-based brands. Daring's next inflection points will likely involve major retail distribution deals and potential expansion into foodservice, where convenience and cost-effectiveness drive adoption.
