What’s fish got to do with it...

It all started with one light bulb moment -

“What if we could tackle invasive species by feeding them to our pets?

Boom! Eco-friendly, tail wagging, purring brilliance.

With over a decade of experience working on river ecosystems, we saw an opportunity to flip the script - turning an environmental challenge into a sustainable, nutritious solution to fulfill your pets needs and reduce your environmental pawprint.

Get to know some invasive fish

African Catfish Middle East, Central and South Africa.
Alligator Gar South America
Arapaima South America
Armored Catfish South America
Mozambique Tilapia South America
Nile Tilapia Africa
Red Bellied Pacu South America
Red Bellied Piranha South America

India’s freshwater ecosystems are collapsing under invasive fish species.

Alien invasive fish are wiping out native biodiversity, threatening freshwater ecosystems.

Climate change & floods are accelerating their spread, worsening the crisis.

₹8.3-11.9 trillion in economic damage due to invasive fish in India.

75% of pet food uses marine fish, accelerating biodiversity collapse.

Instead of treating invasive fish as waste, we turn them into a scalable, sustainable alternative to ocean-based pet food.

Directly removes invasive species, restoring native biodiversity.

Replaces marine fish in pet food → reduces pressure on ocean ecosystems.

100% sustainable, nutritious, and vet approved pet food.

Circular model → every purchase actively restores freshwater habitats.

Welcome to our family of pet parents, ecologists, nerds, chefs, vet geniuses, and wildlife enthusiasts who all agree on one thing - good pet food shouldn’t cost the earth.

Neeti Mahesh

Founder

A river ecologist and conservationist, Neethi is delving deep into creating sustainable pet food that connects fish, pets, rivers, and people. With her expertise in ecological restoration, she’s building a mission-driven brand that nourishes pets while healing ecosystems.

Gautam Krishnankutty

Chef

Chef Gautam, pet parent to Khimchi, crafts fish-based recipes for Paws for Rivers. Known as Gonzo, he’s passionate about pets, wildlife, and creating nutritious feasts.

Sayan Deb Sinha

Product & Growth

Sayan drives strategy, growth, and productmarket fit at Paws for Rivers. With 10+ years in product marketing and innovation, he’s focused on scaling impact-driven ventures.

Meghana Dayanand

Chef

Meghana, a former journalist and chef, now specializes in creating nutritious pet recipes that are both delicious and wholesome. As a lifelong foodie and proud parent to cats Azaad and Duma, she combines her culinary passion and media expertise to elevate pet dining experiences.