Andrés Arrocha · Biochemical engineer · Food scientist

You bring the question. I usually find a better one, and the numbers to back it.

I'm an outside set of eyes for founders and owners about to commit real money to a product, a process or a scale-up. I rebuild your numbers, challenge the assumptions, and tell you what I see. 10 years, 200+ projects.

Top Rated Plus on Upwork · 100% Job Success · 192 jobs · $300K+ earned

Andrés Arrocha, biochemical engineer and food scientist

How I think

The first question is rarely the right one.

In my experience, the question a client brings is a symptom. The decision that matters is usually one level up.

Numbers before opinions.

I don't give you a perspective. I give you a model built on your real data, and I tell you what it says, even when it says no.

I've seen the inside of many industries.

Based on previous projects, the fix for a problem in one industry often comes from another. That's what an outside view is for.

Case study

An example of a better question

Case study: Mora Cué, chia protein

David came to me to choose equipment. The real question was which product to make and at what scale. I modeled three directions with his numbers. The answer was protein concentrate at mid scale, with a 41% gross margin. They built it and launched.

Industries

Where I've worked

Different industries, the same job: find what decides the outcome and put a number on it.

  • Food and beverage
  • Frozen desserts and ice cream
  • Plant proteins
  • Dietary supplements
  • Herbal and plant extraction
  • Cosmetics and household care
  • Electrode and microelectrode fabrication
  • Flexible packaging
  • Pharmaceutical data

My largest single engagement passed $100,000.

Pricing

Three ways to work with me

Most people start with the Diagnostic or go straight to a Review. If it's bigger than that, I'll tell you in the first call.

Diagnostic

$850 · 5 business days

For: a fast, honest read before you spend more.

You get:

  • Three hours working together
  • A written diagnosis with recommendations
  • A calculator built on your numbers, with the Excel behind it

If you move to a Review within 30 days, the $850 is credited.

Book a 20-min call

Outside Eyes Review

$7,500 · 2 to 3 weeks

For: founders and owners about to commit money to a product, a process, equipment or a scale-up.

You get:

  • A working session where you walk me through the product, process or plan
  • Your key numbers rebuilt from your real data: cost, yield, margin, scale
  • A written review: what holds up, what doesn't, what's missing, and the question I think you should be asking
  • A model or calculator you keep, with the Excel behind it
  • A 90-minute readout to go through it together
  • 30 days of follow-up questions by email

You decide with numbers someone outside your team has checked.

Book a 20-min call

Larger projects

By conversation

Some projects need more than a review: a plant, a product line, a full scale-up. I've led engagements well past $100,000. We scope those together, usually after a Review.

Talk about a larger project

Claims review

Keep the selling point. Lose the FDA risk.

I find those lines and rewrite them so they still sell. Free one-page review.

Review my label claims

What clients say

“Andres was extremely helpful ! I had a recipe emergency which he solved same day ! I could go back to production with minimal disruption Definitely will work again with…”
Ismar Toromanovic CEO, 3D Desserts
“Andres is very knowledgeable with great ideas and outstanding organizational skills.”
Cecilia Shepherd CEO, Sound Science Nutrition

Read every review on Upwork →

Free calculators

Free calculators. Try one before you hire me.

FAQ

Questions

Why not just use AI to build the model?

You can, and I use it too, which is part of why I deliver in days instead of months. In my experience, the spreadsheet was never the hard part. The hard part is knowing which yield your process will actually hit, what your supplier or co-packer will really charge, and which assumption breaks at scale. AI gives you a model. I give you numbers I've checked and an answer I'm accountable for.

You work across so many industries. Is that a risk?

From my point of view, it's the point. The physics, the chemistry and the cost math don't change much from one industry to another. What changes is the habits, and an outside view is useful precisely because it doesn't share them.

Who owns the work?

You do. The model, the Excel, the formulas and the report are yours. No royalties.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes, before any data is shared.

Do you work with companies in Mexico?

Yes. I'm based in Cuernavaca and work in Spanish and English, including COFEPRIS and NOM requirements.

About

Andrés Arrocha

MSc in Biochemistry, 6 years in research, 10 years freelance. I also run my own food business, so I know the numbers from the operator side too.

Based in Cuernavaca, Mexico. I work with US brands on US Central time.

Contact

Tell me the decision you're facing.

20 minutes, no pitch. If I'm not the right person, I'll say so.

Book a 20-min call