Topic: Planning Pilots and Technical Client Engagement
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 12:00–1:30 PM ET
Duration: 90 minutes
Session Type: Pre-Recorded Background Content + Expert-Led AMA & Applied Learning
Format: Live Virtual (Zoom)
Link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 8395 8963
Passcode: 610306
Session Overview:
Pilots and first-customer engagements are a critical bridge between product development and commercialization. Session 10 focuses on how foodtech and novel ingredient founders can plan, structure, and execute effective pilot projects and technical customer engagements that generate meaningful validation, reduce risk, and support long-term adoption.
This session moves beyond product-market fit to address the practical realities of working with early adopters and industry partners. Founders will learn how to “run a big experiment” with a customer or partner, including how to recruit pilot partners, align expectations, manage technical and operational requirements, and formalize pilot engagements that support scale and financing readiness.
What You Will Learn:
In this session, participants will:
- Learn how to design pilot projects that deliver credible technical and commercial validation;
- Understand best practices for engaging early adopters and industry partners as pilot customers;
- Identify common pitfalls in technical client engagement and how to avoid them;
- Explore how pilots can be scoped, structured, and financed to align with partner incentives; and
- Gain practical frameworks for moving from pilot execution to longer-term commercial relationships.
Session Format:
This session uses a flipped-classroom model to maximize live discussion and applied learning.
Pre-Work:
Participants will review a short pre-recorded backgrounder (15–20 minutes) from the session contributors in advance. This content introduces core concepts, frameworks, and real-world examples so everyone arrives with a shared foundation.
Live Session:
The live 90-minute session will focus on an AMA-style expert panel discussion, case-based learning, and cohort Q&A. Founders are encouraged to bring specific questions related to pilot planning, technical validation, partner engagement, and commercialization strategy.
Optional slides may be used sparingly to anchor discussion or highlight key points.
Session Contributors:
Matt Tom Founder & President, MTCC LLC + Co-Founder & Executive Chairperson, Global Forum for Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins
Matt brings deep experience supporting early-stage food technologies through validation, commercialization strategy, and manufacturing scale-up. He will share practical case studies, including lessons learned from both successful and failed pilots.
Kevork Sevadjian CEO, Gastronomous Technologies
Kevork draws on his experience leading technical client engagements and structuring pilot projects in foodservice and automation environments. His insights focus on aligning pilots with customer needs, managing expectations, and turning early deployments into scalable commercial opportunities.
