#240 - Introducing Startup CPG's R&D Radio with Adam Yee

#240 - Introducing Startup CPG's R&D Radio with Adam Yee

Author: Startup CPG March 17, 2026 Duration: 16:36
The Startup CPG Podcast
BusinessEntrepreneurship

Host Daniel Scharff introduces the newest addition to the Startup CPG Podcast family: R&D Radio, a brand new segment hosted by food scientist, serial entrepreneur, and podcast veteran Adam Yee. Going forward, Adam will be interviewing product developers, formulators, and R&D experts to bring emerging brands deep into the world of research and development—without requiring a technical background to follow along.


Adam brings 12+ years of food science experience, having founded two food businesses (Better Meat Company and Sobo Foods), hosted 300+ episodes of the My Food Job Rocks podcast, and built his consultancy UmaiWorks around helping people turn ideas into real products. In this introductory episode, Daniel and Adam talk about what R&D Radio is, why it exists, and what brands can expect from upcoming episodes.


Listen in as they discuss:

  • Why Startup CPG launched R&D Radio and what it aims to do for emerging brands
  • Adam's background as a food scientist, entrepreneur, and podcast host
  • The launch of Startup CPG's first-ever Product Developer Directory—and how it was built
  • What makes a great formulator-brand relationship, and why personality matters as much as technical skill
  • The different ways product developers work: from 0-to-1 concept development to co-packer navigation to hands-on lab assets
  • Adam's own "passion ingredient" focus on Asian flavors—and why finding a formulator who's excited about your product changes everything
  • What brands should pay attention to as they listen to upcoming R&D Radio episodes

Episode Links:


Adam Yee – Food Scientist, Entrepreneur & R&D Radio Host 

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmeadamyee/ 
  • UmaiWorks: https://www.umaiworks.com/


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


Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.


Show Links:

  • Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
  • Join the Startup CPG Slack community (35K+ members and growing!)
  • Follow @startupcpg
  • Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
  • Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
  • Episode music by Super Fantastics


Behind every product on a store shelf, there's a story of risk, innovation, and relentless hustle. The Startup CPG Podcast, brought to you by the community at Startup CPG, digs into those stories where theory meets the messy reality of building a brand. You'll hear founders recount the pivotal moments that nearly broke their company and the breakthroughs that saved it, moving beyond polished success tales. Conversations often turn to the buyer's perspective, offering a rare look at what actually gets a product onto retail floors. The focus is relentlessly practical, dissecting supply chain snags, packaging dilemmas, and marketing strategies that cut through the noise. This podcast operates like a field manual for the trenches of consumer packaged goods, built on the belief that shared knowledge is the best advantage. Tune in for candid exchanges that feel more like a mastermind session than a broadcast, all aimed at demystifying the path to shelf space and sustainable growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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