Today my guest is Pierre-Yves Paslier, cofounder and co-CEO of Notpla, a company that makes packaging disappear. They have created a cutting edge packaging material directly made from the ocean, from seaweed. It is biodegradable in six weeks and it can actually be eaten.

This episode is perfect for you if you would like to learn:

• how to go from an idea to a cutting-edge sustainable product through several years of R&D. Pierre created his company in 2014 and it started as a student project. They have now more than 25 employees. They have industrialized 2 products, and a 3rd one is on its way.  
• We talked with Pierre about how he used an innovative funding method, equity crowdfunding to get more than 850’000 pounds from 900 private investors, at a moment when classic investors didn’t want to fund the next stage of their company 
• You will also hear how to take advantage of social media and PR to raise awareness on your brand and your product. Pierre and his team managed to create several viral campaigns without working with any external agency and without spending a single penny on PR and social media. They grew everything organically in DIY mode, with some videos who reached more than 19 million views. In fact, I am pretty sure you have seen some of them, explaining how they trap water inside little transparent bubbles of seaweed packaging who can be eaten directly during events like marathons or festivals.
• We also talked about their IP strategy, how they decided to patent certain things and keep others as a secret recipe without patent. 

Pierre shared 7 Do’s and Don’ts about his experience of entrepreneur, and specifically about how to bring a disruptive technology on the market.  

Notpla won among others the world technology award in the environmental category or the climate kick UK venture competition. They are really revolutionizing single use packaging in the food industry, so fasten your seat belt for an episode full of learnings and inspiration!

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