Spotlight Series: Interview with Tara O’Driscoll, Co-founder and CTO of BoobyBiome

With a background in neuroscience and a passion for applying research in real-world settings, Tara has made the leap from academia to biotech entrepreneurship. Her work is helping close the health gap for babies who miss out on the critical microbes found in breast milk, an innovation with the potential to transform how we think about early-life immunity.

In this conversation, Tara shares how she and her team turned a bold scientific insight into a tangible commercial opportunity, the lessons she’s learned through the Shott Scale Up Accelerator, and what’s on the horizon for BoobyBiome as they prepare for a major product launch.

What is BoobyBiome, and what problem is it tackling?

BoobyBiome is a microbiome health company using cutting-edge research on breast milk to develop transformative products that improve infant gut health. Our mission is to ensure every baby, whether breastfed or not, has access to the critical microbes that set them up for lifelong immune health. 

We're tackling the rapid rise in childhood diseases linked to disrupted gut microbiomes. The early gut microbiome shapes lifelong health, but many babies (due to formula feeding, C-sections, or antibiotics) don’t get the microbial start they need. Although breast milk provides nearly 40% of the beneficial microbes infants need, many babies are unable to access it due to a range of challenges. Our first product is a baby bottle system that preserves these microbes during breast milk storage, ensuring they reach the infant intact. Our next product is a symbiotic supplement for non-breastfed babies, which comprises breast milk-derived probiotic strains and prebiotic human milk sugars.  

What was most challenging for you when starting out?  

Realising our research could tangibly improve health outcomes for babies across the globe was incredibly motivating.  The biggest challenge was stepping away from the comfort of academia and tackling the commercial and operational complexities of a start-up: financial modelling, IP, regulation, hiring, and manufacturing. All of it was new, but with time and support, I have come to appreciate these everyday challenges. 

What was the moment you thought, “I can turn this into a commercial opportunity”? 

The turning point came when we realised that research into the breast milk microbiome had been overlooked, even by the Human Microbiome Project, which aimed to map every major microbiome in the human body. Despite mounting evidence linking compromised infant microbiomes to autoimmune conditions and chronic illness, this piece of the puzzle seemed to have been largely ignored. Not only was the science compelling, but the need was also clear, and there were no products on the market addressing it. That was the moment we knew that this could be more than a research project; we could drive innovation in infant health and make a real-world impact.

Why did you apply to the Shott Scale Up Accelerator programme? 

At the time, we were preparing to launch our first product and scale the team. I was looking for structured support to strengthen my leadership skills, particularly around product development, commercialisation, and scaling a biotech company. I also wanted to gain confidence in my role as CTO, particularly in areas outside the science, including strategy, operations, and team culture. 

If you’re scaling and facing challenges, this programme meets you where you are and is a great sounding board when things feel uncertain.

What was your experience on the programme? 

The peer roundtables and open discussions during the training were a real highlight for me. They created an honest, supportive space where I could learn from founders further along in their journey. The coaching and mentorship sessions also gave me a great opportunity to reflect on my leadership style, rather than trying to fit a mould. On the practical side, I gained essential knowledge around technology road mapping, go-to-market strategy, and stakeholder engagement from the training sessions, all of which have been instrumental as we gear up for launch. 

What impact has the Shott Scale Up Accelerator programme had on your business so far? 

The accelerator has helped me lead with greater confidence, clarity and purpose. As a business, we’ve utilised the learnings from the programme to think more critically about our product development strategy and customer conversations, refine our go-to-market route and timeline, and build a more detailed, forward-looking tech roadmap. The most valuable lesson has been that strong leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers, but instead means building a culture of trust, learning from our own mistakes and the mistakes of others, and knowing when to ask for help. 

How has the programme helped you move your idea forward? 

As one of three co-founders, I’ve always worked as part of a unit when it comes to leadership. This programme encouraged me to step forward a bit more, trust my instincts, and lead in a way that plays to my strengths. It gave me the confidence to contribute more actively to decision-making and to feel more comfortable shaping our strategy as the business grows. 

What would you say to someone considering applying to Shott Scale Up Accelerator programme but feeling unsure or not “ready”? 

There’s no perfect moment to apply. If you’re scaling and facing challenges, this programme meets you where you are and is a great sounding board when things feel uncertain. It’s about being open to growth and re-assessing your skills and attributes as a leader of a growing business. You’ll learn from peers, get access to brilliant mentors, and be part of a supportive network that genuinely wants you to succeed.

Quick fire questions

• Who is your role model? Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva. She’s a visionary who was relentless in her mission, making huge strides in the accessibility of technology. 
• What’s your guilty pleasure? True crime podcasts. 
• When I was a child, I wanted to be… A medical doctor, until I realised scientific research (and the brain, in particular) was really where my passion was. 
• I am currently binging... Watching the Black Mirror series, and reading Circe by Madeline Miller. 
• Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? ‘Do what scares you’. It’s worked for me so far! 
• Conversely, what has been the worst piece of advice? ‘Don’t work with friends’. I have heard this a lot, but our friendship has been the foundation of our success. 
• If you were an investor, which Hub Member would you invest in? There are honestly too many brilliant founders to choose from. I might be slightly biased, but I’d invest in someone from my Shott accelerator cohort. I’ve seen their passion, resilience, and drive firsthand, and I’m confident they’re all on track for global success. 
• Is there something you know now that you wish someone had told you when you started? That leadership comes in all different styles, and that quiet confidence is powerful. 
• If you had to start all over again, would you do anything differently? I’d have made more time to connect with other founders sooner. The value of good networking, peer support and shared experiences have been some of the most valuable lessons for me throughout this journey. 

The Shott Scale Up Accelerator is a twelve-month programme that develops, nurtures and strengthens the leadership capabilities of senior decision-makers in high-growth engineering and tech SMEs to scale their business to the next level. Applications open twice a year, in the early Spring and Autumn