Lauren Abda

Food has always played a leading role in Lauren's life. Hailing from a family with strong Lebanese and Polish roots the family dinners were often a globally inspired experience. When she was 16 years old her grandmother was diagnosed with stage IV Leukemia and the outlook was grim. Her family set out to find alternative ways to support her grandmother’s health and began exploring the benefits of plant-based diets, sparking her curiosity in nutrition. This period turned out to be a pivotal time for her and prompted her dedication to the creation of a healthier food system for all.

Fast-forward to 2013 when she was completing my MSc. in Food Policy and Nutrition at Tufts University. She pursued an internship at Techstars Boston where she witnessed first-hand the power of innovation and technology in disrupting – and improving – industries. With her grandmother in mind, she started a Meetup group to bring people together and discuss opportunities for innovation aimed at improving the food system. The group gained tremendous popularity, sparking interest from leading Boston conveners such as Cambridge Innovation Center, General Assembly, Venture Cafe, and the MIT Enterprise Forum. Not only did the Meetup Group serve as a platform for like-minded individuals to discuss plans for transforming the food system, but it also helped many working on food-related startups to connect with and help each other. A viable path of entrepreneurship started to create an even greater need for support in Boston. Through a partnership with the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in downtown Boston, she launched a hub for the food community to convene, work, and create change. And thus Branchfood was born.

Today, Branchfood is one of the largest communities of food entrepreneurs in the world. They build resources to support food entrepreneurs and collaborate with various stakeholders across the food value chain to bolster industry innovation. She still hosts the Meetup group the first Thursday of every month as a way to support the local food community.