E31 #StartupStory “Cheese, Challenges, and Change: FÆRM’S Journey in Plant-Based Innovation” with Andrea Donau (CEO) & Mikkel Lau Dupont (COO) of FÆRM.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting the co-founders of FÆRM, Andrea and Mikkel. Their story is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride filled with passion, innovation, and sheer determination spiced up with a couple of "near-death experiences. Andrea, with her background in food technology, and Mikkel, with his expertise in commercial law and business administration, shared their unique journey of creating FÆRM. They've taken the challenge of transforming the plant-based cheese industry by applying traditional dairy methods to plant proteins, resulting in a product that's not only delicious but also sustainable. Their startup story is a testament to the power of a strong partnership and a shared vision. Despite facing near-bankruptcy multiple times, they've managed to navigate through the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship with grace and grit. Their commitment to maintaining a fun, positive, and supportive work culture has been a cornerstone of their success. As they look to the future, FÆRM is on the brink of commercial breakthroughs, with exciting research and potential partnerships on the horizon.  Tune in to learn how FÆRM is revolutionizing the world of plant-based cheese with their unique approach! About FÆRM We are FÆRM, a food tech company that uses science to further traditional cheese production methods, creating the future of non-dairy products. We re-design plant-masses to achieve the well-known textures and flavors from cheese to create taste experiences - unlike anything you’ve had before. Timestamps: 00:01:10 - FÆRM'S Founders' Backgrounds 00:01:55 - FÆRM'S Mission and Plant-Based Cheese 00:02:44 - Environmental Impact of Cheese 00:02:58 - FÆRM'S Unique Business Model 00:03:54 - Founders' Inspiration to Start FÆRM'S 00:04:17 - The Early Days and Vision of FÆRM'S 00:08:37 - The Journey Begins: From Idea to Action 00:09:08 - The Transition from Cashew to Bean-Based Cheese 00:10:21 - The InnoFounder Grant and a New Direction 00:11:04 - Building a Company Culture and Identity 00:13:18 - The Dark Year of 2022 and Financial Struggles 00:15:10 - The Turning Point: A Business Angel Steps In 00:16:06 - The Investor Landscape and Challenges 00:18:18 - The Science Behind FÆRM'S Cheese 00:21:31 - The GreenUp Accelerator and Prototyping 00:23:16 - The Second Bankruptcy Scare and Investor Relations 00:25:37 - The Business Model Pivot and Licensing Strategy 00:27:07 - The Importance of a Strong Founder Relationship 00:29:21 - The Team's Dedication and Work Culture 00:31:10 - The Future of FÆRM'S and Commercialization Plans 00:33:01 - Seeking New Team Members and Partnerships 00:34:03 - The Founders' Dynamic and Shared Vision 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: We want to build a community to inspire life science professionals and leaders through talent talks and organized events. Share knowledge across the life science community through personal stories of their journey. We encourage you to take part in shaping this community by sharing your feedback, questions, or ideas. This you can do through our LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠community page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: Feel free to share feedback or ideas for future themes or guests using our voicemail you can access⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: (no voicemails will be published without your explicit approval). Warm Regards from your podcast hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nehar Mortuza⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Søren Spanner Bach