Mohammad Modarres

Social entrepreneur

Mohammad Modarres is currently focused on making the growing need for faith-based, religious foods more accessible to individuals and organizations that want to foster more inclusive spaces (and dinner tables!). From Halal to Kosher, Mohammad uses his unique background—with past lives as the co-founder of a biotech company (that continues to operate in Northern California), an award-winning NYTimes published cartoonist, a board game designer, and TED Speaker—to produce products and programs that bring people together to celebrate their commonalities. Mohammad entered the food space by accident when he produced the first-ever "Interfaith Meat" products that are both (Zabihah) Halal and (Glatt) Kosher at the same time. Beyond following the most Orthodox laws of each faith to help all denominations eat from the same plate, Interfaith Meat helps food businesses save time, money, inventory space, and even food waste. Additionally, Mohammad works with local ranchers who use pasture-raised livestock to rebuild carbon soil (and use the best aspects of agriculture to tackle climate change). Mohammad offers "Interfaith Meat" through his latest venture called Abe's Eats (AbesEats.com). Outside of food, Mohammad works with the c-level executives of private and public companies across industries on branding, program and product development, and general strategy. As a public speaker, he has spoken at Columbia University, Food Lab, IFC Films, and TED, to name a few. Mohammad is a Johns Hopkins alumnus where he studied public health, was a Rhodes, Truman, and Schwarzman nominee before ultimately being awarded a George Mitchell National Scholarship to attend Trinity College Dublin on a full scholarship. In his spare time, he loves to produce the "Shabbat Salaam" interfaith dinner series and spends practically all his free time fixing his home – a 1979 VW Bus – which breaks down at the most conveniently inconvenient times. You may get in touch with Mohammad at Hello@AbesEats.com.

making inclusivity contagious

Mohammad is best known for developing the first "Interfaith Meat" that is both (Zabihah) Halal and (Glatt) Kosher at the same time. This 2-in-1 process helps food providers save on time, money, inventory space, and even food waste, while it makes faith-based foods more accessible by being more inclusive. Learn more at AbesEats.com.

branding, public health, social impact, storytelling, triple bottom line

Hans Rosling's first TED talk inspired me to study and work in the field of public health. In many ways, Hans Rosling and TED changed the course of my life.

amateur food eating competitions