The Story behind Tälist: Catalyzing Transformation in the Alternative Protein Industry
To tackle both climate change and promote animal welfare, one of the key solutions we have is food innovation, with the Alternative Protein sector experiencing substantial growth in recent years. Yet, this promising industry faces a critical bottleneck: the struggle to find and recruit the right talent. To solve this issue, Tälist emerged last year as a much-needed bridge, establishing itself as the biggest global hiring service within the industry. Learn more about the story behind the organization in this article.
Tälist’s CTO Nils-Oliver Boldt and CEO Pia Voltz
How the Tälist Journey Began
The idea for Tälist was born in the innovative atmosphere of the ProVeg Future Food Hackathon in 2021, where the future founder Pia Voltz was leading the winning team. Excited to start a vegan cheese start-up, Pia noticed the gap in the area of recruitment for Alternative Protein companies. Recognizing a talent service as a much needed solution for the current and future challenges of the industry, she leveraged her expertise in executive search and employer branding to create Tälist. The mission was clear: to provide crucial hiring infrastructure for the new wave of food technology.
After many conversations with different stakeholders from the industry, the concept was set and Tälist was founded in May 2022. However, the journey was not without its hurdles. Being a solo founder turned out to be a considerable challenge. To bring her vision for a matchmaking platform to life, a co-founder with a strong technical background was needed. Early this year, that co-founder became Nils-Oliver Boldt, whose technical know-how and shared vision for impactful innovation made him an invaluable addition to Tälist’s founding team.
The People Powering Tälist
Being the Founder and CEO of Tälist, Pia Voltz stands for the strategic direction of the organization. After working in consulting for several years, Pia's path took a pivotal turn toward impactful entrepreneurship. Her commitment to meaningful work within the Alternative Protein industry first led her to co-found Cellular Agriculture Germany in 2021. Her experiences there, particularly the challenges of hiring experts in this niche field, have also contributed to the inception of Tälist in 2022.
Tälist’s CTO and Co-Founder Nils-Oliver Boldt has also first gathered experience in various other sectors. With a decade of diverse experience, from managing event logistics to developing software for VAT compliance, Oliver discovered his passion for creating software with impact. His journey through tech solutions in different industries set the stage for his leap into Tälist. As the organization’s Co-Founder and CTO, Oliver's ambition is to use technology to drive growth in the Alternative Protein industry and beyond.
Key Achievements and Current Standing
After the launch in May 2022, the organization went through a phase of rapid growth. By July of that year, Tälist’s services were live, and the team was already engaging with clients. By late summer, Tälist had not only secured its first projects but was also gaining recognition, being invited to key industry conferences, showcasing their early mover advantage.
December 2022 marked another significant milestone with the launch of the pilot job board, aiming to be the largest in the global Alternative Protein sector. The job board was a success, with an all-time high of 5,000 monthly jobs so far and hundreds of applications submitted in the last month alone. Shortly after the job board launch a strategic shift from traditional executive search to a matchmaking platform took place as Nils-Oliver Boldt joined as CTO and Co-Founder in February 2023.
The launch of the organization was supported by a series of philanthropic grants, the first of which kickstarted Tälist in 2022, followed by another one in 2023 in addition to public funding. This financial backing was not merely a matter of chance; it was a testament to the funder's belief in the impact and potential of Tälist’s vision. We successfully convinced them of our mission’s significance not once, but twice – in 2022 and again in 2023. Additionally, the two public grants we received were awarded on the basis of our project's potential for creating not only a significant social impact but also demonstrating promising economic viability. This allowed the start-up to grow while staying financially independent.
The Road Ahead
As Tälist looks into the future, the vision is both ambitious and straightforward: to stand as the central talent hub for the sustainable food industry, particularly within the Alternative Proteins sector. This vision extends beyond helping food startups: it's about supporting the entire ecosystem, from non-profits to industry suppliers, ensuring that every contributor to the industry can find the talent they need efficiently, thereby saving them valuable time and money.
One of the cornerstones of Tälist's success from the start have been strategic partnerships. While there isn't a single standout relationship, the collaboration with key partners like Blue Horizon, ProVeg, and the Plant Based Foods Association has been particularly influential. The support from various organizations, informal advisors, and mentors altogether has been fundamental in creating win-win partnerships that bring not just their business forward but the industry as a whole.
For those looking to create change in the world of sustainable food systems, Tälist's advice is to identify and fill the 'white spaces' – areas needing innovation at a sectoral level. Matching personal strengths and skills with these opportunities, searching collaboration rather than competition, and contributing something uniquely beneficial to the sector is the key to creating impactful change.
Do you also want to play a role in shaping the future of food? Join Tälist today, and connect with opportunities in the Alternative Protein industry. Become part of a community dedicated to creating a sustainable food system!