🎙️ From Food Waste to Community Wealth: The Vision of Olio with Tessa Clarke

How do you turn personal frustration with food waste into a global movement of sharing, connection, and sustainability?

In this episode, we sit down with Tessa Clarke—co-founder and CEO of Olio, the groundbreaking app that helps neighbors share surplus food and household items. From her roots on a Yorkshire farm to leading one of the most impactful social ventures of our time, Tessa’s journey shows how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can change not only how we consume but also how we connect.

Through our conversation, Tessa opens up about the values that shaped her, the challenges of building a mission-led company, and why community is the most powerful force in tackling the crisis of food waste. We also explore the balance between business and purpose, the future of sustainability, and why sometimes the boldest ideas start small.

Whether you’re a founder, changemaker, or simply someone who wants to live more sustainably, this episode will leave you inspired to rethink what we waste—and reimagine what we can share.

🔑 In this episode, we talk about:

• How childhood lessons in resilience and creativity shaped Tessa’s entrepreneurial mindset
• The birth of Olio and its mission to combat food waste through sharing
• Why behavior change is the biggest challenge in sustainability
• Building a community-driven business model with impact at its core
• The role of ambassadors and grassroots growth in scaling Olio
• Social and environmental benefits of sharing beyond food—mental health, connection, and community
• Balancing purpose and profit in a venture-backed startup
• The vision for a circular economy and Olio’s next chapter

• "You have to start small." Big visions are built step by step.
• Sustainability is often deprioritized—but must be reframed as opportunity, not burden.
• Community engagement is the engine of social impact.
• Sharing isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about rebuilding trust and connection.
• Purpose-led entrepreneurship can reshape industries and redefine success.

00:00 – Introduction to Olio and Tessa's journey

07:17 – The birth of Olio: tackling food waste

11:28 – Community engagement and grassroots growth

17:58 – Monetization and business model insights

20:19 – Challenges of scaling a purpose-driven business

29:12 – The intersection of food waste and hunger

30:55 – Balancing mission with business needs

38:53 – Reflections on the past and future of Olio

🔗 Links & Resources:

🌍 Download Olio App → www.olioapp.com

📣 Follow Olio on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | LinkedIn

🎤 Tessa's TED Talk

🧡 Why You’ll Love This Episode:

This conversation is an urgent yet uplifting reminder that our individual choices can fuel collective change. Tessa shows us that when communities come together to share resources, we don’t just reduce waste—we build stronger, more connected lives.

📣 Connect with Us:

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