Westlake alumnus and founder and CEO of MOODLES Peiran Zhu donated shares from his company to the Westlake Education Foundation. A ceremony at Yunqi Campus was attended by Zhu and the founding team of MOODLES, Westlake President Yigong Shi, Vice President Xiaoyun Zhu, and Secretary General Minhao Liu on Aug. 7.

Zhu obtained his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Westlake and received many honors during his time at the university. In July 2021, he founded MOODLES, a food technology company that provides precise nutrients to consumers. Using 3D printing, modern nutrition science, and molecular gastronomy, MOODLES has developed a series of new high-protein, low-carbohydrate food products. The company managed to complete technical verification and construction of a flexible industrial production line in just over one year, and plans to expand production to more food categories in the future.

Zhu has always wanted to be an entrepreneur. “Our competitiveness lies in our uniqueness, and that’s the spirit that I carry into my business,” he said. “I hope to be innovative from the very beginning and to be able to lead the way in social change in the future. For that, I am grateful for the way that Westlake encouraged me to explore.”

As a student at Westlake, Zhu met a number of donors to the university and was impressed by their sense of social responsibility. “Aside from being an alumnus, I am now a donor, too,” he said. “Donating shares to Westlake is my way to contribute and to be a part of Westlake, just as Westlake will always be an important part of us.”

Yigong Shi, president of Westlake University

President Shi expressed his gratitude toward Zhu and his team on behalf of the university. “I feel very strongly about this,” Shi said. “Peiran Zhu is a young entrepreneur, and MOODLES is a young business. Although the company is a recent startup, they have chosen to donate to the Westlake Education Foundation to give back to their alma mater, which I think is amazing.”.

As the fundraising vehicle of Westlake University, the Westlake Education Foundation is expanding the range of ways in which the public can donate to the university. Equity donation is a new option. As the donor’s company grows, the university will continue to benefit from equity dividends and revenues.

President Yigong Shi hands the donation certificate to Peiran Zhu. Pictured, from left to right, are Minhao Liu, Pengrui Wang, Xiaoyun Zhu, Yigong Shi, Peiran Zhu, Qilin Qian, and Hangyu Chen.

At the donation ceremony, Zhu signed a donation agreement with the Westlake Education Foundation and Shi handed him the donation certificate. Xiaoyun Zhu, Minhao Liu and representatives of MOODLES and the university attended the event.