Richard has been building Venture Capital backed startups since 1996. He was at the forefront of the industrial biotechnology sector beginning with Amyris Biotechnologies.in 2007. Those experiences with Amyris and other SynBio 2.0 companies led to building startups in various other sectors including; FoodTech, HardTech, Material Science, AgTech, Renewable Energy and various carbon capture technologies.

In this conversation, Richard Herbert, a seasoned recruiter, shares insights into the recruiting process, the importance of human connection in hiring, and strategies for job seekers. He discusses his journey in the recruiting industry, the evolution of recruiting practices, and the nuances of building effective teams in startups.

The conversation also touches on negotiation tactics for executives and the challenges faced in the current job market. In this conversation, Richard Herbert discusses the complexities of recruitment, the evolving value of equity in startups, and the importance of timing in hiring. He emphasizes that candidates are increasingly motivated by the excitement of solving problems rather than just equity compensation.

The discussion also touches on the current funding environment, the lessons learned from past startup failures, and the necessity of effective research in recruiting. Herbert advises job seekers to be proactive and leverage their networks to navigate the challenging job market.

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In this engaging conversation, Dr. James Richardson discusses his influential book 'Ramping Your Brand' and its impact on the food industry. He delves into the importance of understanding seed financing, the challenges faced by food entrepreneurs, and the negative role of venture capital in shaping business success.

He also reflects on the ethical landscape of American business, the influence of role models, and the personal journey that led him to become a successful consultant. This insightful dialogue offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of starting and scaling a food business. In this conversation, We also get personal and discuss the importance of impact over fame in business, sharing his journey of personal branding and the challenges faced in the consulting landscape.

He emphasizes the need to premiumize services, the role of content marketing, and the significance of identifying the right clients. The discussion also touches on the regulatory landscape of the CPG industry and the financial realities that founders must navigate.

They explore the realities of working with retail chains, the importance of understanding buyer dynamics, and the impact of personal branding in the industry. The discussion highlights the need for honesty and transparency in entrepreneurship, as well as the shifting focus towards wealthier entrepreneurs in the food sector.

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Adam shares his journey being an exhibitor and freeloader at Expo West/Natural Products Expo hosted by Informa/New Hope Network. In this conversation, Adam speaks with Kim Shaw and Jessica Rubino, the ones running the show, about the evolution and growth of Expo West, a major trade show for natural products.

They discuss the increasing number of exhibitors and attendees, the importance of supporting startups, and the new features and changes for the upcoming Expo West 2023. They also touch on pricing strategies aimed at enhancing buyer engagement and provide valuable tips for first-time attendees and exhibitors. The conversation concludes with resources for further information and networking opportunities.

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In this conversation, Mathilde Do Chi, a food law consultant, shares her journey into the world of food law, discussing her background, the importance of networking, and the role of social media in building her personal brand.

She explains the complexities of novel foods and the regulatory challenges involved in bringing food products to market. Mathilde emphasizes the significance of effective communication in her work and how her diverse experiences have shaped her understanding of food regulations. In this conversation, Mathilde Do Chi and Adam discuss the complexities of cultural communication, particularly in the context of food and business.

They explore how different cultures approach communication and food, the challenges of navigating novel food regulations, and the future of food innovation. Mathilde shares insights on the regulatory landscape for novel foods, the importance of understanding cultural sensitivities in food marketing, and the need for adaptability in entrepreneurship. The discussion highlights the interplay between cultural identity, food innovation, and market dynamics.

Find Mathilde here:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathilde-do-chi/ 

Substack - https://mathildedochi.substack.com/

Thinkific (online course platform) - https://forwardfoodlawtraining.thinkific.com/

Website - https://forwardfoodlaw.com

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Dig In is a new sub-podcast where Adam Yee gets an expert to chat about something very specific.

Michelle Klieger, an agricultural economist, discusses the complexities of agricultural economics, the cultural implications of meat consumption, and the significance of cold chain technology in food supply. She highlights the challenges faced by modern farmers, including market volatility and the impact of trade policies, while also exploring the evolution of food supply chains and the importance of sustainability in agriculture.

This conversation delves into the current state of the cocoa and coffee markets, exploring the significant price fluctuations in cocoa due to weather challenges and market speculation. It discusses the shift in consumer behavior towards chocolate alternatives and the impact of trade policies on food security.

We also highlight the intersection of food security and national security, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that populations are fed. Finally, the conversation touches on the future of food, addressing the challenges and innovations that may arise in response to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences.

About Michelle

Michelle Klieger is an agricultural economist with 15 years of agricultural and business consulting experience. An economist and a business strategist, she works with the global agricultural businesses, agtech companies, regional food and supply chain companies, conventional and non-conventional agriculture firms, governments, and philanthropic foundations.

Her knowledge of farm economics, international trade, macro and micro trends on production systems, agricultural supply chains, and regional food systems allows her to help clients explore new business ideas, assess their feasibility, and advise on their implementation, helping to ensure success at every stage. Michelle is a professional speaker, the author of The Demise of Free Trade, and host of The Grower & The Economist podcast. She taught Economics at Bentley University and holds a Master’s in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.  

She is most active on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/michelleklieger. Her company page is stratagerm.com and my podcast is The Grower & The Economist (podcast players and Podcast). She also has a linkedin newsletter. And if you want her Book, here it is

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In this episode, Abbey Thiel, a food science YouTuber and writer, shares her journey from discovering food science to creating engaging content on YouTube.

She discusses the importance of food science in everyday life, the challenges of graduate school, and the skills gained through her PhD. Abbey emphasizes the power of consumers in shaping food trends and the joy of communicating food science to a broader audience.

In this engaging conversation, Abbey and Adam explore various aspects of video production, content creation, and the impact of feedback in the realm of food science communication. They discuss innovative techniques for video production, strategies for generating content, and the importance of audience engagement.

Abbey shares her experiences with feedback from viewers and the challenges faced in effectively communicating food science. The conversation also delves into the emotional aspects of marketing and the significance of navigating YouTube comments.

Finally, Abbey offers valuable advice for aspiring content creators, emphasizing the importance of sharing one's passion with the world.

About Abbey

Abbey has her PhD in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her postdoctoral studies at Wageningen University and Research. Her work focuses on making food science accessible to everyone through YouTube videos, blogs, and educational resources. She recently launched her own an online class "Food Science for Beginners" and plans to add more courses in the future. Whether it's the science behind your favorite foods or the innovations shaping the future of food, I love sharing the 'why' behind what we eat.

Check out Abbey's show: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbeytheFoodScientist

And her website: https://abbeythefoodscientist.com/

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New music, new look, new content, new podcasts. Tune in every Thursday.

Check it:

Food Products FAQ

Maybe Food Maybe Tech

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This is an episode of Crisis Meets Opportunity, a podcast I do every Monday WEEKLY with my friend Kai Wang. Enjoy listening about our week, current events, and the insider details on the launch of Sobo Foods!

Episode breakdown is generally 2 current events, a business diagnosis and a thoughtful end-of-episode thing about life advice.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mCouRehIWU8tQsHqWqvMM

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crisis-meets-opportunity/id1615486011

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Today we’re interviewing Karen Chiu, Senior Brand and Business Development Manager at Lypid Food. A foodtech ingredient company that creates Phytofat, a plant-based fat that’s healthier and more sustainable than animal fat.

I actually was able to meet Karen before the interview in which she invited me to try the phytofat burger at San Burino. This was a really interesting place in Taipei as it felt like I stepped into an American mini mall.

Anyways, we couldn’t do the interview over there so we did it when I was in Kaohsiung online.

Karen’s specialty is branding and she actually did a bit of branding in the United States. She’s specifically interested in community and what aligns in what Karen does has to do a lot with community.

Karen’s first job is with Green Monday, in what I see is a company with a huge presence in Asia. This company does a really good job with brand integrity as it seems like everyone in every Asian country knows them. She then talks about her experience working for both Green Monday and Lypid.

We also get into a deep dive on how to put a unique ingredient into the hands of restauranters and the feedback loop you develop when launching a successful collaboration.

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Today we’re interviewing Evelyn Sun, Investment Manager at Foodland Ventures, a VC firm in Taiwan.

Ok so now we’re going to see Taiwan’s view on food tech. For those that don’t know, Taiwan is a powerhouse when it comes to innovation.

I went to about like, 3 museums per country and one of the most memorable museums I went to was the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung, the coastal southern city of Taiwan. Oh man, Taiwan smokes everyone when it comes to the thoughtfulness and more importantly, the investments they put into business-to-business play is impressive. 92% of the world’s tennis rackets, their semiconductor industry is a behemoth,

What I found interesting is Taiwan’s view on loyalty. The people in Taiwan love being Taiwanese. I’m not going into the politics here but what was interesting is that the General partners in Foodland Ventures were successful American entrepreneurs who came back to Taiwan to cultivate and grow better businesses.

Anyway, Evelyn shares with me some of the focuses and innovations happening in not just food tech, but also things like ag tech and restaurant tech. It really is a great overview of Taiwan’s entrepreneurial tech industry.

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