(PRESS RELEASE) AUSTIN, TX — Yak9 Chews announced that Shristi Mishra has been named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500, an annual list honoring the most dynamic women business leaders in the United States. The honor recognizes founders whose bold ideas, resilience, and execution are shaping the future of their industries.
The 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue and $12.2 billion in funding to date, underscoring the economic impact of women-led businesses across sectors.
Each year, Inc. editors evaluate applications through a rigorous, multi-round selection process. Founders are assessed on both quantitative performance metrics, including revenue growth, funding, sales, and audience size, as well as qualitative factors such as innovation, social impact, and brand momentum. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year. Previous honorees have included such game-changing leaders as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede — all of whom have transformed their industries and broken barriers along the way.
“Yak9 Chews began with a simple idea: to share a traditional Himalayan cheese recipe with dogs around the world,” said Shristi Mishra, co-founder and CEO of Yak9 Chews. “Over the years, we’ve innovated in the natural chew category while supporting the farmers and communities who have been crafting these chews for generations. This recognition from Inc. is incredibly meaningful because it reflects years of persistence, growth, and the collective effort of our team, customers, and partners who believed in our mission.”
Honoree selection is also honed through the evaluation of the program’s advisory board, which includes Patty Arvielo, co-founder and CEO of New American Funding; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation; Joy Mangano, co-founder and CEO of CleanBoss; Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of GORGIE; Sheila Lirio Marcelo, co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai and founder of Care.com; and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover.
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Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Pukar Pyakurel and Shristi Mishra, Yak9 Chews is a premium all-natural pet wellness brand known for bringing innovation in the pet industry. Inspired by a traditional recipe from the Himalayas, the company introduced the first line of flavored yak cheese chews and treats in the pet industry, expanding the category with 11 unique flavors made from simple, human-grade, and functional ingredients.
Yak9 Chews gained national recognition when its Strawberry Cheese Chew won two Best in Show awards at Global Pet Expo 2023, highlighting the brand’s leadership in product innovation. The company has since continued to grow its presence across 300+ independent pet retailers and major online platforms while scaling production capacity to supply their premium quality cheese chews to some of the major pet brands in the U.S.
In 2025, Yak9 Chews was also honored with the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize, recognizing the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the pet industry. Yak9 continues to advance sustainability initiatives such as its “Return 9 bags , Get One Chew free” Program and is an Accredited Member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, reflecting its ongoing commitment to responsible sourcing and environmentally conscious practices.
“Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “The honorees on this year’s list include innovators in AI, beauty and wellness trendsetters winning devoted fans, and nonprofit leaders making a real impact in their communities. Together, they’re showing all of us what trailblazing female leadership looks like.”
Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine’s Spring print issue, on newsstands March 17, 2026. To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2026.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
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About Yak9 Chews
Yak9 Chews is an award-winning natural pet company that manufactures premium Himalayan cheese chews for dogs made with simple, ethically sourced ingredients. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team, the brand brings a centuries-old Himalayan cheese-making tradition to modern pet nutrition through innovative flavors and sustainable practices. Yak9 Chews is recognized for pioneering flavored yak cheese chews and expanding the category with unique, functional recipes made with human-grade ingredients. The company’s products are available in 300+ independent pet retailers and major e-commerce platforms across the United States and internationally. Yak9 Chews is committed to supporting its farming communities while creating high-quality, nutritious chews that dogs love. For more information, visit www.yak9chews.com
