WATCH: Women in Marine seminar with Lauren Mead

MIN’s inaugural Women in Marine seminar is now available to catch-up online.

In it, Lauren Mead, from TeamO Marine Safety Products, charts her company’s journey from an initial idea, through the business she set up with her brother Oscar, into developing technology and taking the product to market.

During the seminar, which was kindly sponsored by Barton Marine, and attended by circa 30 marine industry professionals, Mead shares key observations about TeamO’s journey when creating award-winning safety products for sailors. Best known for the BackTow lifejacket, this patented design is the only lifejacket with a moveable harness point.

Mead’s story begins at 3min 55seconds.

In an inspiring story of highs and lows, Mead says the hardest part of her business experience so far was the independent assessment process and gaining ISO approval. But that shouldn’t put people off innovating. She notes that many small businesses are busy innovating at the edges of the marine trade.

Mead encourages people to “start where you are. Most people don’t have access to research and development facilities. Just test it as early as you can to understand how your product is supposed to work.”

Now TeamO tests each product in-house and simulates the official testing process as much as it can prior to the formal testing process. It even includes replicating weather extremes (down to -60 and up to 60 degrees) for a month to assess lifejackets’ inflation capabilities.

Mead talks frankly about the capital injections the business needed, and describes the crowd-funding process which TeamO used very successfully, an investor pool the company continues to draw upon.

“If you get investors, look at their experience and see how their advice might impact you,” she says. And she notes it’s vital to listen to your customers and actually hear what they tell you about your product. That leads to innovations which set you above your competition.

Mead is an advocate for doing it yourself, not only with seeking advice but also with research. TeamO acquired its first trademark itself, without the need for external advisors.

“With research you can tackle a lot of things,” Mead says. “You can find the answers online and make a go of it.”

MIN will release details of its next Women in Marine seminar in the next few weeks.

“I’ve had a couple of very interesting conversations as a result of the talk already and look forward to tuning in to the rest of the series as new speakers are announced,” says Mead. “It’s a great way to connect with fellow marine industry professionals.”

“Lauren was a brilliant speaker, she is very accomplished and refreshingly candid,” says one attendee. “It was inspiring to hear TeamO’s story. It is much appreciated that MIN hosted this event for our industry. I ordered a new lifejacket from TeamO straight after the meeting.”

Many thanks to Barton Marine for sponsoring MIN’s first seminar.