Bootstrapping Oatco to £1M, Surviving Dragon's Den, & Making Forbes 30 Under 30 with Laura Murphy

In this episode of Trading Up, Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Laura Murphy, the 29-year-old founder of Oatco Superfuel, a natural oat-based energy snack brand. Launched in May 2024, Oatco has experienced explosive 500% growth this year, surpassing £1 million in sales and landing in over 1,000 retail stores. Laura shares her inspiring journey of bootstrapping her startup from a local kitchen in Tyrone to pitching on Dragon's Den. She reveals the preparation strategy behind securing three investment offers and why she ultimately chose to partner with Steven Bartlett. We explore how she navigates the competitive healthy food market by prioritising natural energy over sugar-free protein trends, all while balancing life as a mother of two young children. Recently named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Laura offers actionable insights on scaling organically, pitching investors, and building a powerful lifestyle brand. Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Supported by - Queen’s Business School at Queen’s University Belfast offers world-class undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education. The mission of Queen’s Business School is to educate and explore for the benefit of business and society. QBS is triple-accredited, an accolade which puts it in the top 1% of business schools in the world. As a member of the Global Business School Network, the School is connected through strategic partnerships across the globe. QBS engages with the business community to develop principled and effective leaders, provide student and graduate talent, and harness innovation through academic expertise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.