From Prototype to Impact at Scale: The Operational Realities Founders Must Get Right

Scaling a FoodTech startup is not a continuation of early success — it is a complete shift in capability. Most startups stumble not because of technology, but because they underestimate the operational realities of scaling. Drawing on decades of experience running and developing large‑scale global businesses at Cargill, and mentoring and advising numerous Startups, this session delivers a direct and practical framework for founders.

We address the four structural failure modes that consistently block scale‑ups:

• Limited understanding of the industry and value chain they are entering

• Rushing into the market without supply‑chain readiness (raw material supply, manufacturing, Food Safety, logistics, Customer Service)

• Bringing in Supply Chain & Operations expertise too late, leading to costly redesigns and delays

• Underestimating cost competitiveness, where misjudged unit economics, opex, capex and supply chain complexity become fatal

Participants will leave with a founder‑ready lens for identifying operational risks early, building scalable value chains, and making the decisions that determine whether a start-up can achieve impact at scale