“The best brands in the world provide 1,000 doorways for people to walk through” what an incredible interview, what a journey it’s been! But most importantly congratulations Ara Katz
CEO & Founder at THE BOARD, Co-Founder DISH STUDIOS, Former CEO VIOLET GREY, Founding Team IAMAVOTER, Founding Member Wie Suite, Board Member LAKE & SKYE, Advisor @ Shop My, Available on BOARD OFFICE HOURS 1:1 sessions!
It’s about time. We’re centuries overdue for a revolution in vaginal care. Today, one giant leap: VS-01™, our first innovation targeting the vaginal microbiome, is officially here. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/gDPAuDuu
Eight years ago, we began our journey with Dr. Jacques Ravel to transform his groundbreaking vaginal microbiome research into real-world applications. While more than two-thirds of women1 in the U.S. reported experiencing vaginal discomfort in the past year, most available products target only the symptoms in ways that further disrupt the vaginal microbiome.
Driven by the unmet needs and data gaps in women’s health, we’ve leveraged nearly two decades of Dr. Ravel’s research to create VS-01™—the first vaginal synbiotic clinically validated to rapidly establish an optimal vaginal microbiome dominated by L. crispatus, the vagina’s most protective bacteria. VS-01™ represents a new era in vaginal care, transcending a legacy of harsh, reactive solutions and ushering in a sustainable approach that addresses the source, not just the symptoms.
The launch of VS-01™ reflects the very essence of why we founded Seed: to translate pioneering microbiome discoveries into life-changing health innovations. It is especially meaningful to accelerate these advancements in vaginal health, an area that has been so deprioritized and systemically overlooked. The vaginal microbiome is the next frontier in women’s health, and VS-01™ embodies its vast potential.
Our commitment to education also means this is more than just a product launch—it is a call to awareness and action, an opportunity to offer the vaginal microbiome as a new lens for understanding and empowerment. Know that your work and dedication to steward this narrative will have a lasting impact, far beyond what we can imagine today.
To Dr. Jacques Ravel, whose life's work prioritized vaginal health when science and medicine did not, and to the devoted members of this ecosystem who've worked tirelessly to bring VS-01™ into the world: thank you.
Today is a day we’ve been working towards since the inception of Seed, and we could not be more grateful to celebrate such a pivotal moment with this team. Your exemplary curiosity, thoughtfulness, and resilience have brought VS-01™ to life.
Today has been years in the making for us at Seed Health.
From our inception, we've been driven by a singular vision: to unlock the microbiome’s vast potential for human and planetary health.
Today, we’re excited to introduce CODA 🚀, our latest leap forward, propelled by the pioneering work of renowned computational biologist and microbiome pioneer Eran Segal and The Human Phenotype Project.
CODA is powered by the the largest host-microbiome set that exists, comprising over 3 million observable data points collected across 13,000 individuals and spanning 40,000 subject years. The dataset captures the diversity of human health factors—including biological, environmental, and dietary influences, lifestyles, and medical histories—at unparalleled depth and scale, uncovering new insight into the role of the microbiome in human health and disease. 🤯
The translation of microbiome science has long been challenged by complexity and variability. With CODA, we address these issues head-on, using AI, machine learning, and microbial genomics to enable the precise identification of reliable patterns and correlations between the microbiome and various health outcomes for the first time.
With this deeper understanding of the microbiome's role in health and aging, our insights from CODA are driving the development of precision probiotics and microbiome-directed interventions that target critical health outcomes across metabolic health, brain function, menopause, and longevity. More soon. 👀
https://lnkd.in/gC5_aFsd
I am deeply honored to be featured on CNBC’s inaugural Changemaker list, along with 49 other extraordinary entrepreneurs redefining the landscape of business and innovation. It’s a privilege to stand in the company of Jessica Chang of Upwards, Etosha (Eee-tah-sha) Cave of Twelve, Kate Ryder of Maven Clinic, Svanika Balasubramanian of rePurpose Global, Angela Hwang of Pfizer–– the list goes on.
A heartfelt thank you to the advisors of the program, including Sheryl Sandberg, Julia Boorstin, Merline Saintil and many others for their dedication and vision in building this list.
Thank you to the extraordinary team at Seed Health, with whom I get to nudge the world forward every day. The microbiome holds vast potential to significantly impact the health of all life on Earth, and our work is only just beginning....🌱
#CNBCChangemakershttps://cnb.cx/49SHj8V
Very excited to announce this announcement.
The opportunity to evolve, expand and redefine what's possible with our Seed Health brand alongside our extraordinary team and now our Chief Creative Officer Charles Fulford is what microbial dreams are made of.
Also, Charles Fulford is hiring :)
Beyond charged up to reunite with the brilliant Cathrin Bowtell and start a new role as Chief Creative Officer at Seed Health. Ara Katz and Raja Dhir have built an incredible company and I'm honored to help further the story of the microbiome as a radical new pathway for human and planetary health.
With this move I've transitioned to an advisory position with Feeld. I'm unbelievably proud of the work accomplished by the absurdly talented team—now led by the magnificent Andrew Peet. I cannot wait for this brand to hit the world and evolve the way we think about human relationships. Thank you Ana Kirova for the opportunity.
Best Head of Growth for DTC (subscription) companies post series A but before IPO or exit. 100-300 (company size) at the start of journey and stays for 3+ years.
Quals:
- Data-driven, can get their own data. Whiz with working with data science and spreadsheets and can transition to visualization tools.
- Healthy skepticism for attribution post 2014
- Obsessive about performance/CPA, treats every cent as their own
- Multiple years of experience actually buying and selling on FB, Google, and comparable
- Managing/interacting with diverse groups for acquisition/retention: EPD, Brand, Marketing, CRM
- Ruthless, practical, but ethical
Tag names, please!
I’ll owe you. Please share this.
I'm not leaving Seed anytime soon. The names I commented below are really knowledgeable, are Growth Experts, and may know of people who can fit the bill.
It is with great excitement that I share my new position as Chief Scientific Officer at Seed Health.
Throughout my years in the #microbiome field, I’ve come across countless companies working hard to realize the promise of microbes for human health and beyond. The microbiome as a field is innovating along three axes: science, modality, and business model. It's challenging to get one, let alone all three, right. This is what initially drew me to Seed.
When I met Raja Dhir and Ara Katz, I was struck by not only their unique approach to harnessing the power of the microbiome, but to their deep commitment to scientific excellence and rigor across all areas of their business, from consumer health to therapeutics.
As I’ve become a part of the team, my respect and excitement for the work we are doing here has deepened—and I recognize an opportunity to drive true impact in health.
I’m thrilled to lead R&D at Seed Health, and drive the future of this field forward.
P.S. #wearehiring I’m expanding the R&D team. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in stewarding the next generation of microbial intervention, please reach out.
Our mission to steward the next generation of probiotics continues with the launch of our first pediatric innovation—PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic.
We began our journey with the belief that microbes have vast potential to impact human and planetary health. Inspired by this mission, we wake up each day to translate, educate, and advance this new frontier of science.
Following DS-01™, our flagship synbiotic for adults, we set out to develop a clinically validated pediatric innovation to offer a science-first option parents and pediatricians can trust.
Thank you to the ecosystem of extraordinary humans who helped bring PDS-08™ into the world—our scientists, partners, bioinformaticians, bio fermenters, translational science communicators, industrial designers, creators, engineers and each team member, who thought through every touchpoint (micro and macro) of the product, experience and impact.
🔎—seed.com/pds08
P.S. Much like the Universe, our team is ever-expanding. If this post catches you at the perfect algorithmically-served-up-moment of existential questioning, check out our open roles—seed.com/join-us/ 🌱
New from the Seed-verse: We just dropped our first children's book. A Kid’s Book About Your Microbiome —authored by me, but more importantly made possible by A Kids Company About who dedicate themselves to narratives that will shape children's perspectives and expand the world for them—especially around the hard stuff.
An invitation to discover the extraordinary galaxy of trillions within.
Too small to see. With an impact greater than we could have imagined. The book answers questions like, “What is my microbiome?”, “Where did it come from?”, “What does it do?”, and “How can I help it thrive?”.
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Dedicated to the human I love more than all known and yet to be known galaxies, my son Pax.
In honor of the journey building Seed Health with Raja Dhir • the best co-pioneer one could conjure.
In gratitude to the scientists and translators who were in the room when it all happened.
And in recognition, credit, mad respect and overall love and awe for the the everyday magicmaking that it takes to create the things we put out into the world. Every word, post, font kerning, pixel, image, em dash, origami folding technique is poured over with a kind of care and love of story and hope to make an impact in a way I had always closed my eyes and wished could be incepted within a team. To the magicians •
And to the scientist / artist duo who have made bacteria beautiful turning petri dishes into perspective shifting • Tal Danino and Soonhee Moon •
Today on the podcast, Joe Vennare is joined by Ara Katz, co-founder & co-CEO of Seed Health — a microbial sciences company.
In this episode, the two discuss the microbiome and the many ways it impacts well-being.
Ara explains Seed’s approach to building a platform around studying and commercializing probiotics.
And Joe and Ara talk about the differences between wellness, healthcare, and consumer life science.
Apple: https://lnkd.in/dBHb6qiB
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dZ6FKSgu
Passionate ESL Teacher | Empowering Life, Retirement & Career Transition Coach | Multilingual Learner | Continual Growth Advocate
8moGreat advice you just gave me ok— I am going to tell them exactly what I want to do. Love how on top of it you are. 🥰