Lauren Fernandez

"Our team offers real-world, omni-channel growth expertise. As former industry executives and restaurant operators, we stand with you, bringing deep and practical experience, and offering solutions that are effective, efficient, and elegant."

Managing Principal of FC Polaris Fund I and Founder and CEO of Full Course, Lauren’s expertise spans restaurant operations and development; brand licensing; franchising; and consumer product development. In her career as counsel and corporate executive, she has established franchise partnerships, licensing programs, distribution, and supply chains for food and drug companies globally, has guided them in growing new revenue streams.

Before forming Full Course in the fall of 2019, Lauren was the co-founder and co-owner of restaurant development firm Origin Development Group. At Origin, as the Operating Partner, she purchased and turned around three underperforming Chicken Salad Chick^® units and built an additional eight units in 20 months. Lauren oversaw the deployment of a $10M investment, managing all company operations and development, resulting in a successful exit in Q4 2018.

Lauren served as General Counsel for FOCUS Brands, parent company of such brands as Carvel^®, Cinnabon^® and Moe’s Southwest Grill^®, and as Associate General Counsel and Global Trademark Counsel for CIBA VISION^®, a division of Novartis^®. At FOCUS Brands, she was responsible for franchising administration of six brands and 4,400 units, and directed dozens of international deals. While at CIBA VISION^®, she was part of an elite team that successfully launched a $2B contact lens product internationally in over 140 countries.