Daniel Scharff, founder of Startup CPG, joins the Grow Everything podcast to share how he built the world's largest community for emerging consumer brands. With 35,000 members in their Slack channel and over 75 in-person events annually, Startup CPG is democratizing access to retail buyers, investors, and industry resources that would typically cost founders thousands in consulting fees. Daniel discusses the harsh realities of CPG entrepreneurship—including why only 20-25% of brands survive beyond a few years—and shares his playbook for success: prioritize great branding and taste over health claims, build scrappy and resourceful, and delay fundraising until you can command a meaningful valuation. He reveals patterns he's observed across thousands of brands, from the danger of copycat products in oversaturated categories (looking at you, chili crisps and prebiotic sodas) to the power of in-person connections for discovering innovation. Daniel also explains why Startup CPG operates on a "do good, do well" model, offering free resources to brands while building a sustainable business through sponsorships and events—and why he believes this approach could transform other industries beyond CPG.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Fancy Weekends, Le Bernardin, and the Met
• (00:03:00) - Drops of God Season 2 and Art at the Met
• (00:06:00) - Automatic Noodle Book Discussion
• (00:09:00) - Claude Bot and AI Tools for Content Creation
• (00:13:00) - Introducing Daniel Scharff and Startup CPG
• (00:16:00) - Daniel's Journey from Mars to Just Egg to Startup CPG
• (00:21:00) - Building the World's Largest CPG Community
• (00:27:00) - Patterns of Success and Failure in CPG Brands
• (00:33:00) - What Makes Products Stand Out: Innovation vs. Copycats
• (00:38:00) - The Role of Biology and Health Claims in CPG
• (00:42:00) - Why In-Person Events Still Matter in a Digital World
• (00:50:00) - The Startup CPG Podcast and Media Platform
• (00:54:00) - Fundraising Strategies: When to Raise and How Much
• (01:00:00) - Quick Fire Questions with Daniel
• (01:03:00) - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Links and Resources:

• Startup CPG
• Startup CPG Formulator Directory
• Startup CPG Resources
• Noguchi’s Waterstone at the MET
• Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
• 166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at Scale
• 165. Biology Behind the Brands: Inside P&G’s Two-Century Story
• 164. From Plasmids to Pallets: How Erin Marasco Scales Biology at Cargill

Topics Covered: 

CPG, consumer packaged goods, startups, community, Startup CPG, innovation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Joshua Lachter, co-founder of Synonym, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the future of biomanufacturing and what he calls "the great reformulation." We explore how biology is poised to replace petrochemicals across industries, the infrastructure challenges holding back commercial scale production, and why standardization is critical for mass adoption. Joshua shares insights from Synonym's work building commercial biomanufacturing facilities, including their groundbreaking project in Decatur, Illinois. From GLP-1s to microplastics, we discuss how bio-based products can deliver superior performance while addressing health and environmental concerns. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the commercialization of industrial biotech, the economics of biomanufacturing, and the path toward a reformulated supply chain built on biology.

(00:00:00) - Snowstorm updates from NYC

(00:03:00) - Tech Meets Pharma: The Data Revolution

(00:09:00) - Mr. Beast, Upside Foods, and Colossal Biosciences

(00:14:00) - Joshua's Background and Why He Founded Synonym

(00:18:00) - Financialization and Standardization of Biomanufacturing

(00:25:00) - Early Assumptions That Turned Out Wrong

(00:38:00) - The Great Reformulation: Biology vs. Petrochemicals

(00:48:00) - GLP-1s and Nature-Inspired Innovation

(00:54:00) - Better with Bio: Synonym's Partnership with Brentag

(00:59:00) - Quickfire Questions

(01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

Episode Links:

• Synonym

• BetterWith.Bio

• The Great Reformulation 

• Primient and Synonym Forge Strategic Partnership to Propel U.S. Bioproduct Innovation

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Snowstorm Prep Video

• Mr. Beast video: $1 vs $1,000,000,000 Futuristic Tech!

• Edward Shenderovich ep

• Amy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia ep

• Suveen K18 ep 

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, industrial biotech, Great Reformulation, consumer packaged goods, CPG, biotech R&D, chemical engineering, bioengineering, AI in biomanufacturing

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

Karl and Erum sit down with Amy Trejo and Jose Carlos Garcia Garcia from Procter & Gamble to uncover how one of the world's largest consumer goods companies is leveraging biotechnology to innovate at unprecedented scale. Founded 189 years ago as a bio-waste upcycling partnership between a candle maker and a soap maker, P&G has always been rooted in biomaterials innovation—from pioneering laundry enzymes in the 1960s to developing cold water enzyme technologies that have saved billions in energy costs. Amy and JC reveal what makes biotech innovations stick in the marketplace (hint: it's all about performance), share candid advice for startups hoping to partner with P&G, and explain why the company views biotech as a critical enabler of both sustainability and superior consumer experiences. They discuss common misconceptions about working with large CPG companies, the importance of reducing ideas to practice, and how P&G's connect-and-develop model creates win-win partnerships that can impact billions of consumers worldwide. Whether you're a biotech founder, investor, or enthusiast curious about how innovative materials make it from lab to everyday products, this conversation offers rare insights into the intersection of consumer goods, biotechnology, and global scale manufacturing.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction and Opening Remarks
• (00:01:00) - Erum's Article on Industrial Biomanufacturing for Lichen Ventures
• (00:04:00) - The Vision of Boom Towns and Interplanetary Innovation
• (00:07:00) - Introduction to Amy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia from P&G
• (00:11:00) - Amy and JC's Backgrounds and Roles at P&G
• (00:13:00) - Biotech Innovations Throughout P&G's 189-Year History
• (00:19:00) - What Makes Biotech Innovations Stick: Performance Over Everything
• (00:22:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Partnering with Large CPG Companies
• (00:29:00) - How to Approach P&G: Show Product, Generate Data, Demonstrate Performance
• (00:31:00) - The Power of Reapplication Across Product Categories
• (00:35:00) - Successful Biotech Partnerships: SK-II, Align, New Chapter, Base Camp Research
• (00:39:00) - What Catches P&G's Attention at Conferences and Trade Shows
• (00:42:00) - The Role of Storytelling in Biotech Innovation and Consumer Engagement
• (00:47:00) - Five-Year Vision: The Future of CPG and Biotech Partnerships
• (00:49:00) - One Piece of Advice for Biotech Innovators: Reduce Ideas to Practice
• (00:52:00) - Quickfire Questions with Amy and JC
• (00:53:00) - Closing Thoughts: Impacting Billions of Lives Through Partnership
• (00:54:00) - Karl and Erum's Recap and Key Takeaways

Links and Resources:

• Procter & Gamble (P&G)
• P&G Connect + Develop
• P&G Partnerships
• Stellar: A World Beyond Limits and How To Get There
• Industrial Biomanufacturing Needs Its Manhattan Project Moment by Erum Azeez Khan
• 107. Glow Big or Go Home: Andy Bass's Journey with Glowing Oceans
• 17. Beauty and the Biome with Jasmina Aganovic of Arcaea

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineering

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

We kick off our CPG series with Dr. Erin Marasco, Senior Director of Global Biology at Cargill, who leads innovation in ingredient discovery, strain development, and biotech applications. Erin takes us on a fascinating journey from the fundamentals of fermentation to the complexities of scaling biotech products from lab bench to global supply chains. We explore Cargill's 30-year history in biomanufacturing, discuss why terms like "precision fermentation" might be doing more harm than good, and learn what it really takes for startups to partner with multinational companies. Erin shares insights on feedstock diversity across continents, the future of nutritional bioactives in everyday foods, and why success in biotech means moving from "novel" to "preferred." This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in how biology is quietly transforming every aisle of the grocery store.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & New Year Kickoff — Welcome to 2026 and the start of our CPG series!
• (00:01:00) - JP Morgan Conference & South Africa Travel
• (00:05:00) - New Food Pyramid Controversy
• (00:10:00) - Introducing Erin Marasco & Cargill's Role in Biotech
• (00:17:00) - Where Biotech Creates Real Leverage at Cargill
• (00:21:00) - Demystifying Fermentation: Why Now?
• (00:26:00) - How Cargill Partners with Startups
• (00:30:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Working with Big Companies
• (00:33:00) - What Product Readiness Means to Cargill
• (00:38:00) - Plasmids to Pallets: Successful Partnership Examples
• (00:47:00) - Feedstock Diversity Across Continents
• (00:53:00) - The Future: Nutrition as Everyday Food
• (00:58:00) - Quick Fire Questions & Retiring "Precision Fermentation"
• (01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & What's Next in the CPG Series

Links and Resources:

• Cargill
• Cargill Fermentation Blog
• Fermentation: nature's original biotech by Cargill
• Cantabria Labs (sunscreen from plant extracts)
• Viro - Sugarcane Straws
• Sawubona Mycelium 
• Heliocare Cantabria Labs
•  Andreesen Horowitz, VC fund, raised a $15 billion 

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineering

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum kick off 2026 by reviewing their 2025 forecasts—celebrating the wins (DeSci's rise, waste as a resource, AI-biology convergence) and acknowledging the misses (no biotech M&A boom, no quantum biology breakthrough yet). Then they unveil their boldest predictions for the year ahead: the first functional AI-composed genome entering production, a major non-sterile biomanufacturing facility breaking ground, biological arbitrage creating competitive advantages against tariffs, consumer-held health records surpassing traditional medical data in clinical significance, space-manufactured drug crystals entering human trials, definitive proof of alien life, and AI-enabled communication with whales and other animals. They also welcome Lizette Couto, who joins the podcast to provide science definitions and explanations throughout episodes going forward. From dirty biology manifestos to peptide proliferation to interspecies communication, this episode maps the frontiers where synthetic biology, AI, space technology, and consumer adoption collide. 

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - 🎙️ Welcome to 2026: The Year Biology Gets Real

• (00:01:00) - Introducing Lizette Couto: Science Definitions and Podcast Updates

• (00:03:00) - 2025 Predictions Review: Using AI to Analyze Episodes

• (00:04:00) - What We Got Wrong: H5N1, Quantum Biology, and M&A Activity

• (00:10:00) - What We Got Right: DeSci's Rise and the BIO Token

• (00:12:00) - Waste as a High Value Resource: Agricultural to Urban Applications

• (00:14:00) - Onshoring and Government Funding: A Crushing Year for Science

• (00:18:00) - AI and Biology Convergence: From Reading to Composing Genomes

• (00:20:00) - Microbiome and Longevity in Mainstream Culture

• (00:23:00) - 2026 Prediction #1: The First AI-Composed Genome Goes Into Production

• (00:26:00) - 2026 Prediction #2: Major Non-Sterile "Dirty Biology" Manufacturing Facility

• (00:30:00) - 2026 Prediction #3: Biological Arbitrage Creates 15-20% Margin Advantage

• (00:34:00) - 2026 Prediction #4: Consumer Health Records Become More Significant Than Medical Records

• (00:36:00) - 2026 Prediction #5: Consumer Biotech Gains on Industrial Biotech (The Bathroom Shelf Wins)

• (00:41:00) - 2026 Prediction #6: Space-Manufactured Drug Crystals Enter Human Clinical Trials

• (00:44:00) - 2026 Prediction #7: We'll See Proof of Alien Life

• (00:48:00) - 2026 Prediction #8: AI Enables Clear Communication with Whales and Other Animals

• (00:51:00) - Closing Thoughts and Upcoming CPG Series Preview

Links and Resources:

• H5N1 bird flu
• Novo Nordisk Quantum Computing Program
• 145. Decentralized Science 101: Defining DeSci with the Experts
• 146. Pump It Up: Benji Leibowitz on DAO-ing Science Differently
• bio.xyz
• HairDAO
• Mango Materials
• 123. From Gas to Glam: Molly Morse Discusses Mango Materials' Biodegradable Innovations
• Industrial Microbes
• 113. Microbe Mission Possible: Noah Helman Discusses iMicrobes' Quest to Turn Waste into Wealth
• Symmetry Wood
• 154. No Trees Were Harmed: Symmetry Wood's Gabe Tavas on Growing Wood from Waste
• NIH and NSF alarming funding cuts
• OneSkin
• EVO 2
• 122. Ecohacking the Planet: Daniel Goodwin of Homeworld Collective Brews Up Planetary-Scale Solutions
• The Future of Science: Modernizing the U.S. Scientific Enterprise
• 152. Crystals in the Cosmos: Varda Rewrites Drug Formulation in Microgravity

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, predictions, biomanufacturing, consumer biotech

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum kick off 2026 with deep reflections on prosperity, consciousness, and the idea that we might be living in a simulation. But the real focus is on a concept that could make or break biotech companies: orchestration. They dive into why most biotech innovations outside of pharma struggle to commercialize and introduce the idea of value chain syndication—bringing together innovators, manufacturers, investors, and big incumbents to create entire ecosystems rather than just individual deals. Using examples like K18 Hair's marketing orchestration and the urgent need to replace Red Dye 40, they break down how founders can architect strategic "seed deals" that build toward transformative industry shifts. This isn't about traditional sales or business development—it's about becoming the center of an ecosystem that includes everyone from ingredient suppliers to end customers. With tailwinds from geopolitical changes, supply chain concerns, and increasing demand for bio-based solutions, the time for orchestration is now. Whether you're a founder trying to scale or a big company looking to innovate, this episode shows you how to think bigger than your own company and build the infrastructure for a bio-based future.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Welcome and New Year reflections from California and Cape Town
• (00:01:00) - Prosperity, money circulation, and building a better society
• (00:04:23) - Consciousness, simulation theory, and the philosophy of everything
• (00:09:00) - Why we're replaying the orchestration episode
• (00:10:00) - What is orchestration and why it's not just sales or business development
• (00:15:00) - Why biotech companies struggle to commercialize outside pharma
• (00:18:00) - Value chain syndication and manufacturing orchestration explained
• (00:20:00) - Seed deals: How to start small and build toward the big picture
• (00:22:00) - The Red Dye 40 case study: Architecting an ecosystem for change
• (00:27:00) - Why founders need to think differently and become deal architects
• (00:31:00) - Why now? Geopolitical and economic tailwinds for biomanufacturing
• (00:34:00) - Risks, rewards, and the 5-10 year arc of ecosystem building
• (00:37:00) - Final reflections and how to get started with orchestration

Links and Resources:

• Messaginglab
• National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology's Report: Charting the Future of Biotechnology
• Red Dye ban
• 153. Ghosts of Biotech Past: Veronica Breckenridge’s Playbook for Smarter Scaling
• 149. Beyond Capital: Phil Morle of Main Sequence Ventures on Collaboration as the New Competitive Edge
• 120. Busting Biotech's Bottlenecks: Veronica Breckenridge on the Path to Industrial Scale
• 26. Breaking Bad Hair Habits with Biology: Suveen Sahib's K18 Rescues Your Strands
• Star Talk Neil deGrasse Tyson

Topics Covered: 

biotech, CPG, business models, industry, bacterial cellulose, fermentation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media

In this special holiday replay episode, we revisit our conversation with Ashley Beckwith, founder of Foray Biosciences, who shares her groundbreaking work in plant cell culture and tissue engineering. Growing up in Colorado, Ashley watched forests disappear to housing development and wildfire—experiences that sparked her lifelong mission to reimagine how we produce plant materials. After training as an engineer and working in medical device development, she pivoted to apply tissue engineering concepts to plants, initially exploring lab-grown wood before discovering a more fundamental problem: the lack of accessible, efficient plant cell culture processes. Today, Foray develops fabricated seeds for forest restoration, creates harvest-free plant products, and builds AI-powered tools to accelerate plant science R&D. Ashley explains why plant cells are the fundamental building blocks for everything from molecules to materials to entire ecosystems, and how her company is working to solve the seed shortage crisis that prevents us from restoring 94% of post-wildfire sites. She also discusses the potential for de-extinction of recently lost plant species in California and the importance of creating regenerative rather than extractive relationships with plant systems. This conversation explores the intersection of synthetic biology, forestry, and biomanufacturing while reminding us that we are all, whether we know it or not, plant people.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Holiday Greetings and Stranger Things on Broadway
• (00:04:41) - Introducing Ashley Beckwith and Foray Biosciences
• (00:07:17) - Growing Up in Colorado: Watching Forests Disappear
• (00:10:48) - From Medical Engineering to Plant Biology
• (00:15:00) - The Lab-Grown Wood Experiment
• (00:18:58) - Understanding Plant Cells as Versatile Production Agents
• (00:25:00) - Fabricated Seeds for California Biodiversity Restoration
• (00:33:00) - Addressing the Wildfire Restoration Seed Shortage
• (00:42:00) - Building the Plant Operating System with AI
• (00:50:00) - Why We're All Plant People

Links and Resources:

• Foray Biosciences⁠
• ⁠SF500 (Argentinian Global Venture Fund)⁠
• ⁠Syensqo Corporate Venture Fund⁠
• ⁠H.C. Wainwright⁠
• ⁠University of Vermont - Dr. Steve Keller⁠
• ⁠University of Maryland - Dr. Matt Fitzpatrick
• Foray Biosciences
• 154. No Trees Were Harmed: Symmetry Wood's Gabe Tavas on Growing Wood from Waste

Topics Covered: 

developmental biology, morphology, morphospace, planarians, electroceuticals, bioelectricity, tissue regeneration, biomedical applications, holidays, Christmas

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

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Email: [email protected]

Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media

In this episode, Karl and Erum speak with Aradhita Parasrampuria, founder of CellSense, about revolutionizing the fashion embellishment industry through biology. Aradhita shares her journey from witnessing toxic dye masters in Gujarat textile factories to creating biodegradable sequins, beads, and buttons using algae and bacterial cellulose. She explains how her materials can be produced at room temperature, glow in the dark through bioluminescence, and are manufactured through an automated system that eliminates exploitative manual labor. With one in five garments containing embellishments, CellSense addresses a massive market while tackling microplastic pollution, worker health issues, and the 2027 EU ban on microbeads and lead. Aradhita discusses successful pilots with fashion brands and skincare companies, the challenges of achieving vivid colors and iridescence with biomaterials, and her vision for a circular system where anyone can upload a design and receive custom bioplastic solutions. The conversation explores the intersection of design, biotechnology, and sustainability, demonstrating how biology can create materials that don't just replace plastics—they surpass them.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Fungi as environmental game-changers
• (00:26:18) - Podcast updates and Michael Levin episode highlights
• (02:10:35) - Ashley Beckwith and Foray Biosciences: mining fungal biodiversity
• (04:57:22) - The untapped power of mycelium in biotechnology
• (08:04:15) - Launching the Future is Fungi Award
• (08:58:40) - Susanne Gløersen: Why fungi deserve to be core technology
• (00:12:09) - Fungi's role in solving climate, pollution, and soil degradation
• (00:27:06) - Quickfire questions with Susanne Gløersen
• (00:29:14) - Ricky Casini of Michroma: replacing synthetic food dyes with fungi
• (00:38:10) - Scaling fermentation capacity in South Korea
• (00:38:45) - Pitching fungal colorants to food manufacturers
• (00:40:22) - Regulatory wins and transparency in natural colors
• (00:41:19) - The future of fungal bio-factories in food production
• (00:43:05) - Scaling up production and strategic partnerships
• (00:44:09) - Why color matters in consumer packaged goods
• (00:45:46) - Winning the Future is Fungi Startup Award
• (00:46:59) - Quickfire questions with Ricky Cassini
• (00:49:02) - Dr. Britta Winterberg introduces Mycolever's clean beauty mission
• (00:50:00) - Fungal bio-compounds replacing petrochemicals in cosmetics
• (00:52:10) - Technical challenges and breakthroughs in fungal biotech
• (00:59:52) - Quickfire questions with Dr. Britta Winterberg
• (01:02:54) - Final reflections on the fungal innovation revolution

Links and Resources:

• Cellsense
• Cellsense Partnership with the United Nations
• Bioculture Event hosted by Biofabricate x Juniper VC
• Arahita - Linkedin
• Mountain and The Sea - Ray Nayler 
• 138. Living Textures, Wild Pigments: Suzanne Lee on Nature’s New Aesthetic Toolbox
• 154. No Trees Were Harmed: Symmetry Wood's Gabe Tavas on Growing Wood from Waste
• Grow Everything Substack
• Grow Everything Patreon

Topics Covered: 

biomaterials, fashion, embellishments, sequins, bacterial cellulose, fermentation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Karl and Erum explore the untapped potential of fungi through three groundbreaking interviews. First, they speak with Susanne Gloersen, founder of the Future is Fungi Award, about why fungi represent the next frontier in biotech and how her global platform is accelerating fungal innovation across industries—from soil remediation to firefighting foam. Next, they sit down with Ricky Cassini of Michroma, winner of the Future is Fungi Award, who explains how his team engineers fungi to produce natural food colorants that outperform synthetic dyes and plant-based alternatives, offering 50x more potency than traditional options while being heat and pH stable. Finally, they interview Dr. Britta Winterberg of Mycolever, runner-up of the award, who discusses how her company uses fungal biodiversity to create sustainable bio-compounds for cosmetics, including emulsifiers and enhanced beauty oils that replace petrochemicals without compromising performance. Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight recent developments like MIT researchers using fungal compounds to treat brain cancer, FDA's phase-out of synthetic dyes, and the growing shift toward bio-based ingredients in food, cosmetics, and beyond.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Fungi as environmental game-changers
• (00:26:18) - Podcast updates and Michael Levin episode highlights
• (02:10:35) - Ashley Beckwith and Foray Biosciences: mining fungal biodiversity
• (04:57:22) - The untapped power of mycelium in biotechnology
• (08:04:15) - Launching the Future is Fungi Award
• (08:58:40) - Susanne Gløersen: Why fungi deserve to be core technology
• (00:12:09) - Fungi's role in solving climate, pollution, and soil degradation
• (00:27:06) - Quickfire questions with Susanne Gløersen
• (00:29:14) - Ricky Casini of Michroma: replacing synthetic food dyes with fungi
• (00:38:10) - Scaling fermentation capacity in South Korea
• (00:38:45) - Pitching fungal colorants to food manufacturers
• (00:40:22) - Regulatory wins and transparency in natural colors
• (00:41:19) - The future of fungal bio-factories in food production
• (00:43:05) - Scaling up production and strategic partnerships
• (00:44:09) - Why color matters in consumer packaged goods
• (00:45:46) - Winning the Future is Fungi Startup Award
• (00:46:59) - Quickfire questions with Ricky Cassini
• (00:49:02) - Dr. Britta Winterberg introduces Mycolever's clean beauty mission
• (00:50:00) - Fungal bio-compounds replacing petrochemicals in cosmetics
• (00:52:10) - Technical challenges and breakthroughs in fungal biotech
• (00:59:52) - Quickfire questions with Dr. Britta Winterberg
• (01:02:54) - Final reflections on the fungal innovation revolution

Links and Resources:

• Future is Fungi Awards
• Future is Fungi Award Winners
• The Future is Fungi Award on LinkedIn

• michroma - 1st place winner 
• Michroma partners with CJ CheilJedang to advance precision fermented colors
• Mycolever - 2nd place winner
• XPRIZE
• The language of fungi - Andrew Adamatzky
• Cosmetic 360 Event
• 156. When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form
• 158. Mycelium On, Sound Off: How GOB's Lauryn Menard Makes Biomaterials Feel Like Culture
• 126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic
• 46. Meat the Future: How Paul Shapiro is Brewing Superfoods at Better Meat Co.
• 131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future

Topics Covered: 

mycelium, fungi, mushrooms, Future is Fungi, bioinnovation, biotech, mycoremediation, food dyes, personal care and beauty

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Lauryn Menard, co-founder of Gob, joins us to discuss how she's tackling the 40 billion petroleum-based earplugs produced annually by creating the first biodegradable, mycelium-based alternative. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and featured in Time Magazine's Best Inventions, Lauryn shares her journey from industrial designer to biotech entrepreneur. She explains why she chose mycelium over other biomaterials, how she scaled production without building a factory from scratch, and her strategy for bringing sustainable products to mainstream consumers through cultural relevance—partnering with artists like Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan at major music venues. Lauryn also reveals her vision for Gob's future: replacing an entire category of single-use products, from cotton pads to condoms, with materials that return to the earth. This conversation explores the intersection of design, biomaterials, entrepreneurship, and the urgent need for better infrastructure to support a regenerative economy.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Lauryn's favorite subject - nature's zero waste system
• (00:06:00) - Lauryn's journey from luxury design to founding Gob
• (00:09:00) - The 40 billion earplug problem and material innovation
• (00:11:00) - Beginning with the end in mind: designing for product end-of-life
• (00:13:00) - Why mycelium? Finding the perfect material match
• (00:17:00) - Scale and volume: why small products have massive impact
• (00:22:00) - From concept to cylinder: the design process and user testing
• (00:24:00) - Cultural relevance over sustainability marketing
• (00:30:00) - Teaching the next generation of bio-designers at CCA
• (00:42:00) - Gob's future: replacing entire categories of single-use products

Links and Resources:

• GOB
• Ecovative
• 138. Living Textures, Wild Pigments: Suzanne Lee on Nature’s New Aesthetic Toolbox
• 126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic
• Facts Machine - Science, comedy & trivia show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Topics Covered: 

biomaterials, single use goods, FCMG, mycelium, ear plugs, entrepreneurship, branding, storytelling, biofabrication

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]