R&D RADIO: Brian Chau from Chau Time

The Startup CPG Podcast · 1 Apr 2026 · 26m · Episode 284

What this episode covers

Brian Chau, founder of Chau Time, an R&D operations consulting firm, explains his four-phase process for taking food products from concept to commercialization. He details the concept of 'fiber stacking' used in functional chocolates like Dirty Gut and Femme Health, and discusses navigating the global cacao supply crisis by sourcing directly from heirloom farmers. Chau argues that fiber will eventually surpass protein as the dominant functional ingredient trend due to its multifunctional benefits in gut health and product formulation.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 41m

    HIBT Lab! Yolélé: Pierre Thiam

    Pierre Thiam, co-founder of Yolélé, explains how he transformed the ancient West African grain fonio into a global commodity to support Senegalese farmers and diversify the global food supply. He details the company's journey from a chef's personal mission to a scalable business, highlighting the critical breakthrough of partnering with a milling equipment manufacturer to mechanize processing and eliminate waste. Thiam discusses the strategic decision to brand fonio as a premium, drought-resistant superfood, leveraging his culinary platform and partnerships with retailers like Whole Foods to drive consumer adoption in the U.S.

  • People of Packaging · 1h 10m

    350 - Beyond the Dieline - Dr Juan from PNuff Crunch joins Tom Seymour

    Dr. Juan Salinas, founder of Pnuff Crunch, discusses his transition from food science roles at Nabisco, Cadbury, Kraft, and Nestle to launching his own functional snack brand. He details the operational challenges of scaling production, specifically the costly mistake of over-purchasing long-run packaging film rolls and the strategic pivot to digital printing and smart plate design to manage inventory. Salinas also recounts his viral Shark Tank appearance, where Mark Cuban’s intervention saved the pitch, leading to Cuban’s investment, and explains how Pnuff Crunch’s high-protein, high-fiber formulation targets modern dietary trends including GLP-1 companion foods.

  • People of Packaging · 59m

    345 - Beyond the Dieline - The secret success behind Junebar! Tom Seymour and Keith McCullough

    Keith McCullough, founder of Junebar, explains his pivot from a 20-year career in video game development to creating high-fiber, plant-based snack bars. He details the product's formulation, focusing on clean ingredients and a 4-month refrigerated shelf life, and discusses the strategic importance of fiber in the current CPG landscape. McCullough shares critical advice for early-stage founders, emphasizing the need for small initial packaging orders, the benefits of co-packing, and the emotional resilience required to handle consumer feedback and imposter syndrome.

  • How I Built This · 1h 03m

    Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough

    Krishna Kaliannan, founder of Catalina Crunch, explains how a diagnosis of type one diabetes and epilepsy led him to develop a high-protein, low-carb cereal using ingredients like pea protein and monk fruit. After initial failures in tech startups, he iterated on recipes in his New York apartment, eventually moving to Indiana to build his own manufacturing capability when co-packers rejected his volume. The brand scaled from a $1 million DTC startup to a $100+ million brand with retail presence in Whole Foods and Costco, navigating complex supply chain challenges and ingredient cost fluctuations.

  • How I Built This · 42m

    A climate-resilient ancient grain with Pierre Thiam of Yolélé (2022)

    Pierre Thiam, co-founder of Yolélé, explains how he transitioned from a physics student to a chef and eventually launched a company to commercialize fonio, a drought-resistant ancient West African grain. He details the supply chain challenges of processing fonio, partnering with Woodlands and developing new mechanized equipment to eliminate waste and meet GFSI standards. Thiam also discusses Yolélé’s go-to-market strategy, including securing shelf space at Whole Foods through demos and leveraging social media influencers to build brand awareness for the grain in the US market.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Startup CPG Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.