Frank Yao is CEO of Zrou, which is owned by YouKuai Group International of which Yao is also founder and CEO. Founded in Shanghai in 2019, Zrou is a plant-based protein company that aims to create a holistic plant-based food and beverage ecosystem in China. The brand often collaborates with famous chefs to create versions of traditional Chinese dishes made without animal meat.

Show notes:

3:00 Thoughts on Joe Rogan and many other Western medias reflection of China
5:15 On Frank’s family background and upbringing in Hong Kong and Canada
13:00 University life at Yale and how many Chinese American kids choose their major with direction from their parents
16:45 How meditation and buddhism led to the idea to start Zrou
23:10 The realization that China has the talent to build its own brands to serve its people and the world
25:15 How while living his best life, seeing his Toronto Raptors win the NBA title and feeling the highs and lows of competing in the World Series of Poker, brought him to the realization it was time to start something new
29:00 On buddhism, vegetarianism and flexitarianism
35:00 Health, ethical, and environmental reasons of consuming less meat and thoughts on hierarchy of consciousness
39:00 How offering better choices as a company is the way to get closer to a solution
41:40 China’s history of poverty and how scarcity of the past influences on a modern Chinese society that now consumes more meat than any other country.
49:20 Thoughts on lab grown meat
56:40 Further possibilities with plant based meat
61:40 Zrou as an international food brand