As a meat science major at the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Isaac White knows exactly what goes into the food we eat. Now, he’s making sure pets get the same level of care.
Isaac is the founder of Bark and Grille, a a premium subscription-based meal kit delivery service that gives pet parents confidence in what they are feeding their pets, through fresh, scientifically formulated meals.
Outside the business, he likes to spend time with his two dogs, Winnie, an Australian Cattle Dog mix and Sabi, a bulldog pointer mix. He’s also the owner of Pluto, a cat.
Isaac grew up in the small rural community of Valparaiso, Nebraska, where he says he was shaped to care about agriculture and rural communities. “I would say that’s kind of what’s really shaped me and my passion for animal agriculture, as well as supporting sustainable agriculture,” he said.
The idea for Bark and Grille developed from protein oxidation research Isaac was already doing for his graduate degree. As fresh pet foods continue to gain popularity, he’s noticed a trend: many homemade pet food recipes found online are nutritionally incomplete.
“I’ve seen a lot of the issues related to companion animal nutrition through both research and working in a veterinary clinic,” Isaac said. “I’m trying to alleviate those risks and give more confidence and control to pet parents.”
One of the most influential moments in his entrepreneurial journey was a companion animal food processing class where he was tasked to start a project. “I thought the product ideation was pretty fun,” Isaac said. “As I got into the science behind everything, I evolved my idea and thought I should actually do something with this.”
Although his dad owns a water quality company, Isaac didn’t see himself as an entrepreneur. 
“My experience is in animal science, I’m very scientifically driven, and research is my big interest,” Isaac said. “It wasn’t really until I participated in a 90-second pitch competition that I then decided I should partake in more entrepreneurial ventures.”
Isaac first pitched Bark and Grille through pitch competitions hosted by the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship in the fall and spring semesters. He entered on a whim, but ended up placing second in the preliminary round. “It was rewarding to see someone actually saw value in my idea,” he said.
Launching a business in the pet food industry hasn’t come without challenges. Because pet food is highly regulated, Isaac has spent much of his summer navigating licensing and regulatory requirements.
“It’s a good thing for pet parents because we want to provide them the best food so we don’t have unsafe products entering the market,” he said.
When he joined CYstarters, his goal was to launch a complete and balanced pet food. While that’s still the long-term plan, with only 11 weeks to Demo Day, he shifted his focus to a nutritionally beneficial pet food topper instead.
CYstarters has given Isaac the means to tackle regulatory costs and the confidence to fully explore his idea.
“The financials provided by CYstarters have allowed me to pursue some of the heftier fees associated with the regulation, and the guidance along the way has reinstilled that confidence that anything is possible,” he said.
One milestone is already complete: obtaining a license to sell in Iowa. The next goal is to have Bark and Grille products available to purchase at Demo Day. Along the way, Isaac has also learned the importance of marketing and brand image.
“People aren’t necessarily always buying the product, they’re buying the experience, they’re buying you, so getting some more clarity on how to redefine my brand has been really nice,” he said.
Balancing entrepreneurship with graduate school has required careful planning as Isaac works to build his business while writing his thesis.
“I use a lot of time blocking,” he said. “It’s something that’s pushed pretty hard here in CYstarters, but something I’ve always done.”
His father has been one of his biggest supporters and mentors throughout the process. “He hasn’t given me the answers,” Isaac said. “He’s told me, ‘You’ve got to find them out yourself,’ but he’s definitely given me guidance along the way.”
For Isaac, getting to meet entrepreneurs from across Iowa State has been his favorite part. Students in the cohort represent six of Iowa State’s colleges and bring a diverse set of perspectives to the table. “These people I never would have encountered on campus,” he said. “It’s been nice to get their feedback on my ideas.”
The experience has also taught him that asking questions is one of the most valuable skills an entrepreneur can have. To other students, the advice he would offer is simple: “At the end of the day, the person who’s in charge is you,” he said. “Take charge.”
You can follow Isaac’s journey through Instagram and TikTok @barkandgrille and Facebook at Bark & Grille.
Isaac hopes community members will stop by to learn more about Bark and Grille at CYstarters Demo Day and come ready to bring a healthy treat back to back to their own dogs.
You can follow Isaac’s journey through Instagram and TikTok @barkandgrille and Facebook at Bark & Grille.
Check out our video interview with Isaac White below!
