Now what drove her into founding KET? “Perhaps because I’m on the Autism spectrum, I’ve always been obsessed with reducing suffering. For most of my life, my drive has been the greatest reduction in suffering for the greatest number of living beings, whatever their species. As a child, animal testing was the worst suffering I knew. As a teenager, I focused on genocide. As an adult, I learned about factory farming, and everything else paled in comparison.” This quest became even more personal once she became a parent to a flock of chickens. 

“Few people know that chickens can recognize up to 100 faces, have complex social structures, can solve simple math problems, and can learn to ski, surf, swim, and sail (yes, really).” As if this was not fascinating enough, Olivia could go on: “They have a fascinating language, of which I can manage about half a dozen words/sounds. They love watching documentaries and movies. And check out the Flockstars, the Internet’s most famous chicken music band.” What started with pets evolved into a much greater mission: “When I told one of my dearest friends, visionary entrepreneur Barney Pell, that I was planning to take a few years off to work pro bono for several animal welfare organizations, he made me realize that the only way we’d get major systemic change is by changing the food system at its source.” For Olivia, this is where alternative protein comes in: “As of today, there are already alt-products that can match their traditional counterparts for taste and texture. The day we beat them on price, it’s game over.