Mohammed Ashour is the Co-founder and CEO of Aspire, a global technology pioneer in insect agriculture. Aspire targets markets that utilize insects for applications in nutrition and agrochemicals with a vision to alleviate global food insecurity. Under his leadership, Aspire has raised over $100M in venture capital and private equity... Read more
Mohammed Ashour is the Co-founder and CEO of Aspire, a global technology pioneer in insect agriculture. Aspire targets markets that utilize insects for applications in nutrition and agrochemicals with a vision to alleviate global food insecurity. Under his leadership, Aspire has raised over $100M in venture capital and private equity and is currently operating the world’s largest, fully automated insect production facility in London, Ontario.
Aspire was launched in 2013 after Mohammed led a team of five students from McGill University to defeat over 10,000 teams from around the world to win the prestigious US$1mm HultPrize (dubbed the “Nobel Prize for Business”) presented by President Bill Clinton. With expertise in business development, finance and strategic partnerships, Mohammed leads Aspire’s growth internationally.
Mohammed Ashour is widely regarded as a leading voice at the intersection of technology, the future of food, climate change, social impact, and innovation. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, Fox Business News, the Economist, Wired, CNET, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company and The Globe and Mail.
Mohammed is the recipient of the Specialty Food Association Visionary Leader Award and the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. In 2016, he was inducted to the renowned Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Mohammed pursued a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MD-CM) degree from McGill University. He holds M.B.A. and M.Sc. (neuroscience) degrees from McGill University and a B.Sc. degree in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto.
Solving for climate change, world hunger
How companies can be better stewards of the planet without compromising their bottom line (doing good and doing well)
Dropping out of medical school to start Aspire and raising $100mm to build the company
How to start a company, raise money, deal with rejection, growing pains, scaling an organization