Suggestions
Katie Spies
Founder & CEO at Maev
Katie Spies is the founder and CEO of Maev, a company that produces premium raw dog food and wellness products.14 Here are some key details about her background and career:
Education and Early Career
Katie Spies graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in mechanical engineering.2 She later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.2 Before founding Maev, Spies held several corporate roles in the sustainability and agriculture technology sectors.2
Founding Maev
Spies founded Maev in 2018 after her dog George experienced health issues that she believed were related to nutrition.24 She spent a year as a dog walker to gain insights into pet owners' needs and pain points.1 This experience, combined with her own efforts to improve her dog's health through homemade diets, led her to create Maev.
Company Growth and Achievements
Since its launch in 2020, Maev has seen steady growth:
- The company raised a $9 million round of funding in its early stages.1
- In 2022, Maev quadrupled its subscriber base and achieved an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 80.2
- Spies reports that the company experiences about 15% month-over-month sales growth.1
Leadership Style and Approach
As CEO, Spies is known for:
- Maintaining close contact with customers, typically speaking to five customers per week to gather feedback.3
- Working closely with veterinary nutritionists to ensure product quality.2
- Focusing on solving problems for pet owners and being selective about which initiatives to pursue.3
Personal Interests
Outside of her work at Maev, Spies is a pet owner herself, with two dogs and a cat.3 She recently moved to Austin, Texas, where Maev is now based.34
Katie Spies has positioned herself as an innovative leader in the pet food industry, leveraging her engineering background and personal experiences to create a company focused on improving dog nutrition and wellness.