Soylent Interview 2024: Complete & Convenient Nutrition

We chat with Demir Vangelov, CEO of Soylent about how they are making complete, sustainable nutrition accessible, appealing and affordable to all.

What was the motivation for starting Soylent?

When the founders of Soylent were living in Silicon Valley working as software engineers, they were not only thinking about how to feed themselves, but they were also thinking about how to feed a growing population. The democratization of nutrition was the cornerstone to their product development. They wanted complete nutrition that was affordable and accessible to ALL, not just the elite.

Soylent was born out of the desire to make sure there were sustainable products being made to feed everyone! Soylent is shelf stable, has complete nutrition including 39 essential nutrients, omega 3 and omega 6, alongside 20g of plant protein - all in one bottle that retails for less than the cost of an average fast food meal!

Who is your typical customer?

While we got our start among the tech crowd in Silicon Valley, we now sell to consumers across the United States and recently launched in Canada. We’re now widely consumed by both men and women from college students, working professionals to busy parents. Soylent is a great product for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy, nutritious meal that is as good for them as it is for the planet.

Could you tell us a bit more about your range of products available?

We started with powders that are easily mixed with water to make a delicious shake. However now our top seller is our ready-to-drink forma, which comes in 10 flavors that only have to be opened to be enjoyed, four of these flavors (including our Soylent Complete Energy™ drink - Stacked) are caffeinated providing energy and nutrition in one. We also have 100- calorie bars, called Soylent Squared that include complete nutrition alongside probiotics, the perfect on the go, plant-based snack.

What goes into your Soylent products?

Soy:

We love soy. Soy Protein Isolate is the core of our products for many reasons.

Soy is the most complete plant based source of protein. This means that it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids that are necessary for healthy, growing, and functioning bodies.

Soy protein isolate is the most sustainable option compared to both whey protein isolate and the blend of pea and rice protein based on these protein’s global warming potential.

 39 Essential Nutrients:

Essential nutrients are vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids that are needed for daily body function. However, they are not synthesized by our bodies, therefore we need to ingest them from our food. When we say complete nutrition we mean in, because we make products that help your body meet its daily nutritional needs.

Healthy Fats:

Using fats, the right fats, provide satiety and the essential fatty acids like omega-3s that you might not find in your typical meal replacement drink.

Allulose:

Allulose is a naturally occurring low-calorie carbohydrate that does not raise your insulin level after you ingest it. We chose allulose to maintain the low glycemic index of our drink so that they deliver energy over time instead of raising your blood sugar right away and following with a sugar crash. Allulose also offers the taste and mouthfeel of sugar with much less calories and no added sugar. Allulose is not a sugar alcohol and can naturally be found in figs, raisins, molasses, and maple syrup.

Energy Without Jitters:

Our Complete Energy™ drink Stacked, as well as our Cafe line, contains caffeine, along with L-theanine — two ingredients shown to keep you feeling more energized and focused. L-theanine is the popular amino acid found in Matcha Tea that when combined with caffeine promotes alertness and focus without the jitters normally associated with caffeine.

Is Soylent designed to be a supplement or could one completely replace a meal with your products?

Our drinks are 400 calorie, complete meals and can definitely be used to replace meals. Soylent is great to have on hand when you are busy and do not have time to fix a complete, nutritious meal.  It is also a great meal on the go, and be consumed in the car, on the train, or when you are scheduled for back to back meetings.

Are there any new areas of food innovation that Soylent is looking into for the future?

Innovation is in our DNA and we are always looking at new ways to bring science-based complete nutrition to the masses. We always have something up our sleeves, but you will just have to wait and see!