Welcome to this new episode of Explore! 😎 Thank you for tuning in - I receive a lot of encouragement on LinkedIn and I wanted to let you know that the best way to send me some love is to follow this podcast and give it 5 stars. It will allow others to discover it. 🙏 In this episode I sat down with Martin Habfast, the co-founder and sales director of Umiami, a food startup that provides plant-based filet experience without compromising the taste and the texture. We discussed Martin’s unique journey from building a tutoring startup to raising $100M to grow a plant-based meat company in France. Martin shares his strategy for fundraising, the challenges of a Food Tech startup, the strategic selection of ingredients, Umiami’s collaboration with a Michelin Star Chef and much more! 🚀 Ambitious founders, this episode is for you. Have a great episode!  **** Listen on Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcast. **** Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenVC.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🔥 Use the code "EXPLORE" to get a lifetime 20% discount on their premium membership. **** Learn more about Explore: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠.  Learn more about Martin and Umiami. **** Timestamps:  00:31 Introduction 02:19 The Journey from Student to Entrepreneur 12:09 The Genesis of a Plant-Based Meat Startup 21:45 Navigating the Challenges of a Food Tech Startup 28:07 From Kitchen Experiments to Lab Innovations 29:43 The Strategic Decision Against Co-Manufacturing 31:11 Becoming a Mission-Driven Company 32:29 Simplifying Ingredients for Superior Products 35:11 NutriScore A: A Testament to Quality 36:47 Producing 100% in France: A Strategic Choice 39:23 Continuous Product Improvement Through R&D 41:58 Targeting the Flexitarian Market 45:21 Innovative Technology Behind Plant-Based Chicken 46:55 Navigating the Competitive Landscape 48:32 Challenges and Opportunities in the Plant-Based Industry 51:13 Collaboration with Michelin Star Chefs and Future Goals 55:34 Contributing to Entrepreneurship as a MassChallenge Judge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit explorepodcast.substack.com