Angus Au

An essential requirement for any entrepreneur is determination and perseverance. For Angus Au, co-founder and chief marketing officer of food-tech start-up The Future Salad, these qualities were demanded in bucket loads just to get his business off the ground. 

When pitching his idea to raise funds, Au’s concept of a “drinkable salad” was initially met with scepticism and he faced countless rejections. However, his belief in his product’s potential, coupled with hard work, eventually gained recognition from an investor. After founding the company in 2020, his product is now sold in Taiwan, Mainland China, Thailand, Hong Kong and the UK. 

An advocate of plant-based diets, Au acknowledges that while salads are among the healthiest foods we can eat, their consumption has repercussions for the environment – often the ingredients are stored in plastic containers and their short shelf life leads to wastage. Thus he had the idea of transforming traditional salad by using freeze-dry technology, which locks in nutritional value and offers busy people a dining alternative that’s both convenient and affordable. 

As with any start-up founder, Au’s daily life is a juggling act. He’s involved in every aspect of his business, from operations, distribution and product development to marketing strategies and customer engagement. He’s also exploring ways to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices throughout its supply chain, and recently completed an advanced diploma in nutrition, helping him to further optimise the benefits of his products.

Despite his demanding schedule, he finds time to get outdoors and connect with nature, which he credits as his greatest inspiration. “It constantly reminds me of the importance of health, sustainability and conservation,” Au says. He also loves travelling and sampling exotic foods along the way, and recently took up photography. 

As for his company’s success, that isn’t solely defined by balance sheets. “My personal motto is ‘health is wealth’. I believe good health is the foundation of a happy and fulfilling life, and that by promoting healthy living and environmental sustainability, we can make a positive impact on the world.”