Gastronomica Series

Wednesday 26 February | 12:30 PM | Exchange Building, Colworth Science Park

Speaker: Lauren O’Donnell – Founder, Oatsu | Endorsed by BBC Dragon Steven Bartlett | Award winner

Key Themes: Nutrition, wellbeing, and food innovation

Why Attend?

Join us for an inspiring Lunch & Learn session with Lauren O’Donnell, founder of Oatsu.

Discover how one of the UK’s leading F&B entrepreneurs turned an idea into a fast-growing brand. From identifying a high-growth startup opportunity to finding the right manufacturing partner, Lauren will share real-life insights and the raw challenges she’s overcome while scaling Oatsu.

Why This Matters

The Gastronomica Series showcases groundbreaking entrepreneurs shaping the food and drink industry. This session will cover:

• How to Identify & Validate a Game-Changing F&B Startup Idea – Learn the secrets to spotting market gaps, testing demand, and building a brand that stands out.
• Finding the Perfect Manufacturing Partner – Avoid costly mistakes and discover how to scale production smoothly with the right supplier.
• Cracking the Code to Grocery Retail Listings – Insider strategies to get your product on shelves and drive sell-through.
• How Oatsu Raised 250% of Its Fundraising Target from 270 Investors – Learn the tactics behind our crowdfunding success.
• The Untold Truth About Scaling a Challenger Brand – Real, raw lessons from the trenches of food & beverage entrepreneurship.

About the Speaker

Lauren O’Donnell is the founder of Oatsu, a breakfast brand on a mission to make healthy eating convenient and delicious. After leaving her corporate career, she launched Oatsu in 2020 and is on track to be the UK’s first overnight oat brand on supermarket shelves.

Endorsed by BBC Dragon Steven Bartlett, Oatsu gained a nationwide listing in Holland & Barrett and is launching in Ocado this April.

Oatsu has also achieved an industry-leading shelf life without using preservatives using advanced manufacturing processes.

Join us for an engaging session where Lauren will share her entrepreneurial journey, practical insights for early-stage founders, and what’s next for Oatsu.

Plus, attendees will get to sample Oatsu’s award-winning overnight oats!

Discover Gastronomica

At Gastronomica, we’ve created a vibrant food and drink hub designed to foster collaboration and innovation. This space brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, and creatives, inspiring conversations and connections that can drive forward sustainable solutions in food and drink.

Explore more about Gastronomica, how you can get involved and how it’s shaping the future of sustainable gastronomy here.