Product Launch Roadmap · For food founders
Know the path, the costs and the landmines before you spend a dollar on formulation.
Most first-time food founders don't know what they don't know. Which steps come first, who to hire, what it really costs to reach a first production run, and which mistakes show up late and expensive. In one 90-minute call and one written roadmap, I lay out the whole path for your product.
$950 · Starts with a free intro call · 90-minute strategy call · Written roadmap in 7 business days · 30-minute follow-up
Sound familiar?
You don't know where to start
Formulation, co-packers, labels, Shelf-Life, permits. You can't tell which comes first or what you can skip.
Every number is different
One person says $5,000, another says $50,000. You need a realistic budget before you commit.
You're afraid of the expensive mistake
The wrong co-packer, a label you have to reprint, a product that needs a process authority you didn't know about.
What's inside
Your roadmap, written for your product
The bottom line
A clear verdict: Go, go with caution, or rethink before investing. Plus your top three risks and your next three steps.
Your path to market
Every stage from feasibility to full production: What happens, who does it, typical cost and typical time, and which stages you can skip.
A budget reality check
The estimated total to your first commercial run, compared with your budget, and how to close or phase the gap.
Food safety and regulatory flags
The rules that actually apply to you, from acidified foods and USDA to allergens, claims, Nutrition Facts and cottage food laws.
Shelf-Life, ingredients and sourcing
Your likely Shelf-Life and its main threats, how to test it, and which ingredients will be easy or tricky to buy at scale.
Finding a co-packer
The kind of manufacturer you need, where to look, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
Landmines
The problems that usually show up late and expensive, so you know about them now.
How it works
Free intro call
A quick conversation about your product, so we can both be sure a roadmap is the right fit.
Invoice and questionnaire
If it's a fit, I'll send an invoice and a short questionnaire, so our strategy call starts at full speed.
90-minute strategy call
We dig into your product, your goals and the hard questions together.
Your roadmap and follow-up
Your written roadmap within 7 business days, then a 30-minute call to walk through it.
One flat fee
No payment up front. We start with a free intro call, and if it's a fit, I'll send you an invoice. If you book a formulation project within 60 days of your roadmap, the full $950 is credited toward it.
- A 90-minute strategy call
- A written roadmap within 7 business days
- Your verdict, top risks and next steps
- Path to market with typical costs and timing
- Budget reality check
- Food safety, regulatory, Shelf-Life, sourcing and co-packer guidance
- A 30-minute follow-up call
The roadmap is strategic guidance. Cost and timeline figures are typical ranges, not quotes, and it isn't legal or regulatory sign-off.
Need more depth?
Feasibility Analysis · $2,500
Some products need real research before anyone can say yes: A gummy with only one gelling agent, a beverage with no gums, a new ingredient nobody has worked with. The Feasibility Analysis is a deep technical study with formulation directions and a go or no-go recommendation. If your roadmap shows you need one, I'll tell you.
See the Feasibility AnalysisFood companies I've worked with
“We consulted Bryan as Food Scientist assessor of our beverage concept. He is very knowledgeable, extremely quick to reply, has a quick grasp of what you, as a non-scientist, are exactly looking for and delivers in a timely and correct manner.”
“He usually has an answer at the ready, and when he doesn't, he reviews the literature and presents a robust science-backed answer in accessible language.”
“Not only has he provided a lot of beneficial resources, but has also offered practical solutions based on his expertise.”
Hi, I'm Dr. Bryan Quoc Le
I'm a food scientist and the author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. For more than ten years I've worked across food tech, biotech and nutraceuticals, and my work has been featured in The New York Times, TIME, Scientific American, National Geographic and Rolling Stone.
The roadmap is the conversation I wish every founder had before their first big check. It's my favorite part of the work, and it's where a good plan saves the most money.
Questions founders ask
What stage should I be at?
Anywhere from a rough idea to a kitchen recipe you're already selling. The earlier you are, the more money a roadmap can save you.
Will you make my product?
Not in the roadmap. It's the plan. If you want to move forward, I take products from concept through a benchtop prototype and two revisions, and your $950 is credited if you book within 60 days.
How is this different from the Feasibility Analysis?
The roadmap is a strategy plan for the whole journey, built from our conversation and my experience. The Feasibility Analysis is a deep technical study of whether one specific product can work, with research and formulation directions. Most founders start with the roadmap.
Is this legal or regulatory sign-off?
No. It's strategic guidance from a food scientist. I'll flag the rules that apply to you and point you to the right agency or specialist to confirm them.
When do I pay, and can I get a refund?
Nothing is charged until we've talked and agreed it's a fit. Once you've paid the invoice, you can reschedule anytime before the strategy call. After we've had the call, the fee is nonrefundable, because your roadmap is already underway.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes. I'm happy to sign one before you share your concept or recipe.
Start with a plan.
Book a free intro call. Tell me what you're making, and we'll see together whether a roadmap is the right first step.