Inception

Founder Ben Branson speaks with Managing Partner Mike Edelhart about Pollen Projects, the world's first venture studio dedicated entirely to the non-alcoholic category. Ben shares how his experience growing up on a farm in rural England inspired his creative experimentation with botanical extracts, how that passion and creativity has transformed into a series of highly innovative non-alcoholic brands, and five key pieces of advice for successfully running a startup (spoiler alert: one of them is "Never launch your first product on your wife's birthday").

In this Inception episode, CEO Nick Allen about his company Sunnyside, providing a simple, structured approach to more mindful drinking. Nick explains why Sunnyside focuses on helping its users decrease alcohol intake as opposed to attempting complete sobriety; the huge market for this novel approach (nearly 1 in 3 adults in the US alone!), the myriad of incentives the program provides, and the highly enthusiastic response they've received so far, which speaks to society's increased awareness and dedication to becoming our happiest, healthiest selves."

CEO Nick West talks about Bandit Running, a thriving next-gen performance and lifestyle apparel brand for runners. Nick shares how he attributes much of his company's success to their "obsession with community" and their strong emphasis on user experience; the humbling, highly enthusiastic response they've received since the launch of their very first product; and the many exciting developments on the horizon, including some innovative new product collaborations with ASIC they'll be launching at the New York City Marathon.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with CEO Raina Kumra about Spicewell, the world's first superfood seasoning. Raina shares how the creative method she used to sneak nutrients into her family's meals during Covid transformed into the idea for her company, the incredible reception the product has received so far (consistent 200% Amazon growth month over month!), and the exciting numerous opportunities she's exploring to expand the already flourishing brand.

In this episode, CEO and Co-Founder Monique Meneses talks about Iota, the first nutritional body care brand that addresses problems before they occur, instead of just masking or retroactively treating them. Monique shares how Iota’s formulas are developed in close collaboration with an impressive scientific board and lab team to optimize the microbiome’s complex and dynamic internal processes, how the stark difference between the professional worlds of herself and her cofounder actually makes them better business partners (did we mention her cofounder is her husband?), and how is Iota pioneering body care for the next generation, using groundbreaking science to get to the heart of every single skin issue.

CEO & Co-Founder Emily Doyle talks about DUNE, a suncare brand she launched with her Co-Founder, Mei Kwok, poised to revolutionize the antiquated sunscreen landscape with products clinically proven to “protect and perfect all skin tones.” Emily shares how a part of DUNE's formulation was inspired by Nickelodeon slime; the intense psychological research behind its composition, retail distribution, and marketing application strategies; and the myriad of ways the brand strives to be the go-to suncare brand for everyone, every day - and accessible to literally anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or geography. Plus, a sneak peek into how DUNE is literally going to improve the health of the next generation (spoiler - they're launching a suncare line for babies in 2025!).

In this episode, CEO Anu Sharma talks about her startup Millie, a company that provides comprehensive, wraparound maternal care from conception through the first year of parenthood. Anu discusses how the current care model is failing mothers in the US and how the experience of her own complicated childbirth inspired her to join forces with a talented, proactive team of health professionals to found Mille. Millie is a completely new kind of maternity clinic, shifting the idea of pregnancy and beginning motherhood from a strictly clinical experience to the holistic, human experience it should be.

CEO Omar Dekkiche shares how his company Amatera is accelerating the natural evolution of plants to combat climate change and crop disease. Omar recalls how growing up on a farm in France motivated him to found Amatera, the moment of inspiration he had when he met his brilliant cofounder at the Entrepreneur First accelerator program, and his plans to use their breakthrough cellular evolution technology to revolutionize the agriculture industry by drastically improving the world's most important perennial crops, starting with coffee.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with CEO Nora Cavani about her company Alba Health, empowering every child to have the healthiest, best start in life. In this episode, Nora explains how Alba is developing a simple yet incredibly insightful test to assess the microbiome of infants to identify and mitigate current and future health complications. Nora shares the overwhelming interest and enthusiasm parents are already expressing in this outstanding opportunity, as well as her hopes to facilitate a corresponding sea change in citizen science that could completely revolutionize our fundamental understanding of personal health, substantially improving the lives of future generations. Watch Nora's interview on YouTube

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Charlie Silver, CEO of Ruby Bio, a company making sustainable, scaleable replacements for the harmful chemicals in nearly all the materials in our everyday lives. In this episode, Charlie shares how he and his cofounder developed the brilliant idea of creating low-cost, high-value biodegradable ingredients using naturally occurring yeast; how his decades of experience launching cutting-edge, complex products enabled him to devise a stellar business strategy for long-term success; and how RubyBio will powerfully transform the current chemical production industry, greatly reducing its immensely detrimental impacts on both the planet and our bodies. Bonus! Charlie grills Managing Partner Mike Edelhart on the challenges and inner workings of managing such a cutting-edge and unconventional fund.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with CEO Katy Cottam about how Luna Daily makes microbiome-balancing, taboo-breaking body care for all skin, even the most intimate. In this episode, Katy shares how a life-altering health experience at a very young age inspired her to start her company, how her equally intense roles at two large corporations and one scrappy startup gave her the deep and multi-faceted skillset needed to flourish as a CEO, and how she plans to make Luna Daily the world’s defining brand for women of all ages and stages, empowering them to meaningfully connect with their bodies and with each other.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart speaks with Amélie Quilichini, CEO of Kolibri, a company that plays music to cells to unlock the cell culture revolution. In this episode, Amélie shares the ingenious way Kolibri uses acoustic waves to create the optimal environment for cell growth and production; how overcoming the intense biases she's experienced as a young, blonde, female entrepreneur has actually empowered her to be a stronger and more successful leader; and her plans to scale this revolutionary science to increase yield 10x and reduce production costs 50x, completely transforming the cell and gene therapy industry.

From hand-cranked computers to touchpad screens, from “walking on the skulls of the dead” to building teams in virtual worlds, our oldest partner Mike Edelhart and youngest partner Jenna Jung discuss the difference 50 years have made in revolutionary tech, global power, and our ever-evolving VC culture. Plus, they try to answer the looming question: Are we innovating toward a dead end?

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Lauren Picasso, CEO of Cure, a premium hydration brand with a science-backed formula, plant-based ingredients, and four times the electrolytes of leading sports drinks. Lauren shares how a highly effective, globally implemented hydration formula inspired her to found the company; the unanticipated health benefits the product provides to people with health conditions or dietary restrictions; and her goals for Cure to improve the lives of as many people as possible, both by expanding geographic distribution and by expanding the range of its innovative formula to address the full spectrum of our everyday needs, from increasing energy to assisting with sleep.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO of Nimble, a company transforming personalized health through actionable intelligence from the gut microbiome. In this episode, Sabina shares how Nimble’s novel science unlocks vast amounts of information that we’ve never been able to access before, the seemingly unlimited myriad of applications these invaluable insights will deliver, and her plans for their simple yet highly effective testing process to become as widely adopted as standard blood testing, greatly accelerating our understanding of our health and revolutionizing the entire industry. Nimble just raised a $2M seed round - read all about it.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Jamie McCroskery, CEO of Bluebird, helping brands produce climate-friendly products and authentic sustainability stories about them. In this episode, Jamie shares how living on a glacier in New Zealand for 15 days inspired him to abandon his career at a big tech corporation, explains how improving sustainability practices directly corresponds to increasing a brand’s profitability, and describes Bluebird’s long-term vision of working across all consumer verticals, enabling thriving markets for low carbon product innovation.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Chris Bryson, CEO of New School Foods, about creating whole-cut fish made entirely from plants that looks, cooks, flakes, and tastes just like wild salmon. As the past founder of a successful e-commerce company with absolutely no culinary experience, Chris didn't foresee leading an alternative protein startup being the next step in his career. But upon realizing the magnitude of the current food crisis, he was compelled to take action. His fresh perspective and willingness to question the problematic existing manufacturing process resulted in an incredibly authentic and highly scalable product destined for momentous, industry-wide impact.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Martin Stübler, CEO of BioFluff, developing the world’s first entirely plant-based fur. In this episode, Martin explains how a 12-week lockdown in a tiny town in Catalunya sparked the idea for his business, describes the fascinating technology behind Biofluff’s remarkable quality and versatility, and shares his long-term vision of becoming the go-to performance material company by replacing harmful petrol-based products with sustainable alternatives for industries ranging from fashion to interior design to automotive manufacturing.

In this episode of our Inception podcast, Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Sarah Adler, CEO of Wave, a mental health digital ecosystem designed for the digital native. Sarah shares how her past hedge fund analyst career and current psychiatry background empowered and inspired her to found Wave; the many challenges involved in serving a generation whose current system is entirely incapable of meeting their needs; and how her company is providing science-backed solutions through genuine, empathic listening focused on meeting people where they are in life, helping to build the skills they need to not only survive, but thrive.

Managing Partner Mike Edelhart talks with Christoph Jenny, co-founder of Planted, a company producing delicious plant-based meat with only natural ingredients and perfect bite. In this episode, Christoph talks about how their clear-cut core strategy, dedication to the perfect product, value-based philosophy, and unique geographical market advantages have gained $115M in total funding and landed them in almost a thousand restaurants and retail shops across Europe in a mere three years.