#271: Inside Scoop on Founders & Formulators Speed Dating

The Startup CPG Podcast · 20 Oct 2026 · 42m · Episode 388

What this episode covers

Megan Castellon of Syren Spreads and Andrew Kuzera of Ono, alongside food scientist Andrew Firestone of Firestone Consulting Group, discuss Startup CPG’s Founders & Formulators event. The guests detail how the speed-dating format helped Syren Spreads identify oxidation risks in their Skinglow spread and prompted a packaging shift to foil sachets, while Ono’s Kuzera used the event to learn the technical vocabulary for fixing astringency in his protein soda. Firestone explains how the event allows independent formulators to generate leads and broker relationships with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers like PureCaf and FlavorSum.

Mentioned

Companies
Syren Spreads, Ono, Firestone Consulting Group, FlavorSum, Marine Biologics, TreeHouse Foods, Comet, Just Egg, Nootopia
Products
Skinglow, SeaTex

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