Cam Newton is no stranger to investing. But now, the Carolina Panthers star is sharing why he chose to invest in Daring Foods, a plant-based startup that manufactures a chicken substitute.
“For plant-based meat alternatives, 2021 was a breakout year, and the market is only looking more lucrative going into 2022,” he said to Fortune Magazine. “Daring Foods is developing sustainable healthier meat replacements for the most widely consumed animal protein: chicken.”
Cam Newton also said that his decision to invest in the company had to do with his decision to be proactive with his health.
“Being a Black man who grew up in the South, fried chicken was a staple in most diets. It was inexpensive and delicious; while not the healthiest option, we sometimes even had it twice a day,” he said to One Green Planet. “Something I hope to accomplish with Daring is to teach the Atlanta community and others the power of plant-based eating. Forming a healthy diet doesn’t need to be expensive and can have the same taste, texture, and feel as real chicken without the harmful results to our body, environment, and the chickens.”
Previously, Cam Newton has said that he became a vegan after he realized its health benefits.
Aside from Cam Newton, who else has invested in Daring Foods?
As AfroTech previously reported, Daring Foods has the backing of several famous people, including none other than Aubrey Drake Graham. Back in May 2021, we told you about Drake’s participation in the company’s Series B funding. The funding round raised more than $40 million for the company, which manufactures plant-based “chicken.”
“The first wave of plant-based was really focused on taste and texture, but then you had the sacrifice of other elements, like health,” said Ross Mackay, a co-founder who serves as Daring’s chief executive officer. “Unlike other plant-based meats, Daring highlights its low calories and short ingredient list.”
