Structuring tech start-up operations with minimal resources
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Start-up Village, Amsterdam, 2019
From chaos to operational clarity: I delivered enterprise-scale blockchain solutions, led website redesign, and executed multiple Strike Two Summits, bringing together industry, start-ups, government, NGOs to tackle gnarly problems in the food supply chain. The company moved from scattered activity to confident, repeatable delivery.
Where it all began:
When I joined Open Food Chain (called "The New Fork" in 2019) I wasn’t new to fast-moving businesses. I’d already spent over a decade managing complex projects and five years running my own food venture. The New Fork was a different kind of challenge: a blockchain start-up with a bold vision to bring transparency to the global food system, and a small, passionate team running at full speed in every direction.
The Challenge
The team’s ideas were strong, but there was no consistent way to prioritise, plan, or deliver across its many moving parts: a flagship event, client pilots, investor and stakeholder relationships, and a new digital identity. Everyone (4 full-timers plus 2 interns) was doing everything and progress depended on who happened to be available that week.
What the business needed was not more ideas, but a framework to turn those ideas into repeatable execution and to do it in a way that didn’t drain the energy and creativity that made the company special.
The Work - Introducing structure without slowing momentum
I introduced an agile rhythm to help the team move with clarity and focus. We implemented sprint planning, retrospectives, and client-facing reviews that made progress visible and accountable. These rituals created alignment between technical, marketing, and commercial initiatives and between us and our enterprise clients.
I acted as both Scrum Master and Product Owner, managing delivery for our first enterprise client (annual revenue €4B) including the design and build of:
A customer-facing interface
A company-facing interface
An integration API
A blockchain backend (Komodo)
This was the company’s first major end-to-end delivery and my role was to make sure it not only launched, but launched well.
Building the foundations for scale
I created an internal project management system that gave us visibility across all workstreams, from web development and product delivery to event operations and client partnerships. I co-authored value propositions, funding proposals, and investor decks, ensuring that our technical innovation translated into language that partners and investors could rally behind.
Alongside that, I managed the redesign of The New Fork’s website and digital presence managing designers, developers, and interns to better communicate our vision and credibility.
Making the vision tangible
The Strike Two Summit became our flagship event, and I led its full execution: resource planning, vendor management, logistics, and stakeholder communication. It wasn’t just an event; it was a live collaboration event, showing what happens when great ideas meet good operations.
The Impact
By mid-2020, The New Fork had evolved from a reactive start-up to an agile, structured organisation capable of delivering complex blockchain solutions for major clients. Things I'm proud of:
Established an agile delivery model across the company, improving efficiency and collaboration.
Delivered the company’s first enterprise-scale product suite.
Created a repeatable project management system adopted across teams.
Strengthened digital brand and investor positioning through strategic content and communications.
Successfully executed international events that became central to the company’s visibility and growth.
Had a LOT of fun doing it.
Reflection
The New Fork was where I learned how much energy structure can actually create. When people know what they’re aiming for and have the right rhythm to get there, everything moves faster and feels lighter.
I didn’t just keep projects on track; I helped turn an ambitious idea into a system that could sustain itself. I'm delighted The New Fork has evolved into Open Food Chain and is continuing its mission. And that’s the kind of work I love! Bringing clarity, confidence, and forward motion to teams that are ready to grow.
