Host Daniel Scharff sits down with R&D Radio host and food scientist Adam Yee for a special mini episode previewing Startup CPG's first-ever Founders & Formulators event—happening July 12th in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton, the day before the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual convention.

With a room full of formulators already heading to Chicago for IFT, Startup CPG is seizing the moment to bring them together with emerging brands for a speed-dating style matchmaking event. Whether you're still developing your product, struggling with a specific quality issue, or just want expert eyes on what you've built—this event is for you.

Adam brings his perspective from both sides of the table—as a food scientist, independent formulator, and former brand founder—to break down how to make the most of five minutes with a formulator, what questions to ask, and how to find the right partner before you even walk in the room.

Listen in as they discuss:

Why Founders & Formulators exists—and why there's nothing else like it in the industry
How formulators think about evaluating a product: vibes, questions, and tasting
What brands should bring to the event and how to get the most out of every conversation
How to use the Startup CPG Product Developer Directory to research and vet formulators ahead of time
The difference between hourly vs. project-based engagements—and why deliverables matter more than anything
Why personality and passion are just as important as technical skill when choosing a formulator
What makes a great formulator-founder relationship—and how to avoid the most common pitfall

Episode Links:
🎟️ Register for Founders & Formulators (July 12, Chicago): https://bit.ly/4w0A75M

🔬 Startup CPG Product Developer Directory: https://startupcpg.com/product-developer-directory

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Show Links:

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Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics