Six Questions, One Startup is a short-form profile series from the Vancouver Tech Journal spotlighting the founders and startups shaping Vancouver's tech scene — in their own words and in under 50 words per answer.
Kalino Bio is a Vancouver-based biotech startup developing a non-surgical alternative to spay and neuter surgery for dogs and cats — a needle-based fertility control solution designed to be safer, more accessible, and less traumatic than traditional procedures. The company is currently in early development.
We spoke to founder and CEO Sherry Zhao.
What problem were you personally obsessed with when you decided to start this company?
Why do we have to hurt our pets for their health and our convenience? Spay/neuter surgery is painful, risky, and costly, and yet it's the only option available. I became obsessed with finding a gentler alternative.
Why did you choose to build this company in Vancouver?
Vancouver uniquely combines deep life sciences expertise, consumer brand DNA, and one of North America's most powerful immigrant networks — opening doors to international partners across Asia and beyond. The perfect launchpad for global ambitions.
Explain your product like you’re talking to a 10-year-old.
You know how dogs and cats get fixed with surgery? That's scary and it hurts. We're making a shot that teaches the animal's own body to naturally stop making babies. No surgery. Just a tiny needle.
What was the scrappiest or most unconventional thing you did early on?
I stopped strangers walking their dogs mid-stride, asked about their biggest pain points with vet care, and scribbled notes on my phone. No focus group budget needed, just curiosity and zero shame.
How did you get your first customer?
We are currently in the early stages of development, and we are inviting curious minds, collaborators, animal welfare organizations, and veterinarians to stay in touch.
What’s one lesson you learned the hard way that you wish you’d known sooner?
At big organizations, I was surrounded by experts and resources I could call on. In a startup, I am the expert. The hardest part? Others still see you in your old role. Learning to own my authority before anyone else does is everything.