Healthy Aging & Proactive Nutrition Summit 2023

Healthy Aging & Proactive Nutrition Summit

Transforming health span by driving investment and nutritional innovation to enhance longevity, performance, and prevention.

REGISTER NOW
Pasadena, California
6-7 December, 2023

Interested in partnering with us this year? Get in touch with our team today!

WHY ATTEND?

The Healthy Aging and Proactive Nutrition Summit 2023 aims to accelerate nutritional approaches to enhance health span and resilience for the full age spectrum.

Serving as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships, the Summit will bring together pioneering start-ups, multinational and independent brands, investors, retailers, and ingredient suppliers to explore cutting-edge strategies, share valuable insights, and showcase innovations that have the power to transform the landscape of healthy aging.

Research & Development

Unlock the future of healthy aging via cutting-edge nutritional insights. Discover the latest scientific breakthroughs in mobility, sports nutrition, brain and mental health, hormone balance, gut health, and personalized nutrition, with focus on interconnectivity, and insight into new product formulations and applications.

Innovation & Investment

Elevate your strategic positioning in the world of proactive nutrition. Stay informed about the latest investment opportunities and launches in the healthy aging sector, with forward-thinking sessions on high-potential trends, partnership opportunities, and our ‘Make it #HAPN’ Spotlight.

Marketing & Regulatory

Thrive, not only survive. Position yourself at the forefront of industry trends and shifting policy landscapes. Leverage invaluable insights from industry trend-makers to influence and retain your target market, offering authenticity, credibility, and longstanding impact.

KEY STATISTICS

2
Days
30+
Industry Leading Speakers
9+
Dedicated Networking Hours
150+
Industry Executives

INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Applications are welcomed from innovative start-ups, spanning functional foods and beverages, vitamins, supplements, nutrition tech, and ingredients. Our esteemed Selection Committee will select five finalists to pitch their brands live to them, with a 5min presentation on the main stage, followed by quickfire Q&A. Our audience will then pick the “Best in Show” winner!

Applications are closed.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Author:

Arpesh Mehta

Investment Director
DSM Venturing

Arpesh Mehta

Investment Director
DSM Venturing

Author:

Holly Jackson

Ventures Director
Danone Manifesto Ventures

Holly Jackson

Ventures Director
Danone Manifesto Ventures

Author:

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

Author:

Susan Roddy

Managing Director, Consumer Health & Personal Care
Houlihan Lokey

Ms. Roddy is a senior member of Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer, Food & Retail Group, leading the firm’s Consumer Health and Personal Care practice. Her focus areas include health & wellness and personal care, including women’s health and intimacy, healthy aging and mom & baby. 

Ms. Roddy has nearly two decades of corporate finance experience, with a particular passion for advising high-growth consumer brands. Her recent work includes the sales of Zesty Paws to H&H Group, Nuun to Nestlé Health Science, SmartyPants to Unilever, Care/of to Bayer, and Zarbee’s to Johnson & Johnson. She also has significant expertise in corporate carve-outs and divestitures, as well as contract manufacturing and private label across sectors.

Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Ms. Roddy worked in Corporate Strategy & Development at PepsiCo, where she led deal execution in Europe and was responsible for executing the company’s strategy to expand into good-for-you and better-for-you food & beverage categories. Prior to that, she worked in Investment Banking for Deutsche Bank and as an accountant for Ernst & Young.

Ms. Roddy holds a B.S. in Accounting from Bucknell University and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She was previously a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Pennsylvania (expired).

Susan Roddy

Managing Director, Consumer Health & Personal Care
Houlihan Lokey

Ms. Roddy is a senior member of Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer, Food & Retail Group, leading the firm’s Consumer Health and Personal Care practice. Her focus areas include health & wellness and personal care, including women’s health and intimacy, healthy aging and mom & baby. 

Ms. Roddy has nearly two decades of corporate finance experience, with a particular passion for advising high-growth consumer brands. Her recent work includes the sales of Zesty Paws to H&H Group, Nuun to Nestlé Health Science, SmartyPants to Unilever, Care/of to Bayer, and Zarbee’s to Johnson & Johnson. She also has significant expertise in corporate carve-outs and divestitures, as well as contract manufacturing and private label across sectors.

Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Ms. Roddy worked in Corporate Strategy & Development at PepsiCo, where she led deal execution in Europe and was responsible for executing the company’s strategy to expand into good-for-you and better-for-you food & beverage categories. Prior to that, she worked in Investment Banking for Deutsche Bank and as an accountant for Ernst & Young.

Ms. Roddy holds a B.S. in Accounting from Bucknell University and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She was previously a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Pennsylvania (expired).

Author:

Steven Gwozdz

Principal & Angel Investor
Laurel Heights Equity Partners

Steve is an angel investor supporting and advising emerging companies in health and wellness, consumer finance, and consumer services. He is a cornerstone investor in the Nutrition Capital Network, where he serves on the selection committee for their capital introduction events. Early in his career, Steve was an early member of the team driving the growth at Nantucket Nectars, a better-for-you beverage start up which realized a successful exit to a strategic.  Steve has since built a career advising institutional asset managers on their public equity investments in emerging and developed markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. 

Steven Gwozdz

Principal & Angel Investor
Laurel Heights Equity Partners

Steve is an angel investor supporting and advising emerging companies in health and wellness, consumer finance, and consumer services. He is a cornerstone investor in the Nutrition Capital Network, where he serves on the selection committee for their capital introduction events. Early in his career, Steve was an early member of the team driving the growth at Nantucket Nectars, a better-for-you beverage start up which realized a successful exit to a strategic.  Steve has since built a career advising institutional asset managers on their public equity investments in emerging and developed markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. 

Author:

Alison Minter

Managing Partner
North Partners

Alison Minter

Managing Partner
North Partners

2023 SPEAKERS

 

Laura Kunces

Vice President, Medical Strategy
Thorne HealthTech

Dr. Laura Kunces currently serves as VP of Medical Strategy of Thorne HealthTech. Previously, Laura served as SVP of Strategic Marketing for Onegevity Health, LLC from March 2019 until its merger with Thorne in March 2021. Before Onegevity, Laura was the Director of Medical Affairs and Clinical Research at Thorne, The Director of Nutrition Research at Arla Foods, and the Director of Research at EXOS, and an Assistant Professor at Central Connecticut State University.

Laura Kunces

Vice President, Medical Strategy
Thorne HealthTech

Laura Kunces

Vice President, Medical Strategy
Thorne HealthTech

Dr. Laura Kunces currently serves as VP of Medical Strategy of Thorne HealthTech. Previously, Laura served as SVP of Strategic Marketing for Onegevity Health, LLC from March 2019 until its merger with Thorne in March 2021. Before Onegevity, Laura was the Director of Medical Affairs and Clinical Research at Thorne, The Director of Nutrition Research at Arla Foods, and the Director of Research at EXOS, and an Assistant Professor at Central Connecticut State University. Laura earned her PhD from the nationally top-ranked Kinesiology Department at the University of Connecticut with a focus in nutrition. Laura holds two Master’s Degrees, one in Exercise Physiology from the University of Connecticut and one in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Memphis. Her undergraduate Bachelor of Science is in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut, where she was also a four-year D1 collegiate swimmer. She has been a registered dietitian for 15 years. Her expertise is in sports nutrition, clinical nutrition, personalized wellness, and metabolism research and communications.

 

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

 

Bodi Zhang

Chief Strategy Officer
Thorne HealthTech

Dr. Bodi Zhang currently serves Chief Strategy Officer of Thorne HealthTech. Previously, Dr. Bodi Zhang has served as Chief Science Officer for Onegevity Health, LLC from January 2018 until its merger with our company in March 2021. Prior to his current role, Dr. Zhang served as Vice President, Corporate and Medical Strategy from January 2015 to 2018, and as General Manager, Strategic Alliance from January 2013 to 2015. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Zhang worked at Deallus Group, a global healthcare consultancy. Prior to the Deallus Group, Dr.

Bodi Zhang

Chief Strategy Officer
Thorne HealthTech

Bodi Zhang

Chief Strategy Officer
Thorne HealthTech

Dr. Bodi Zhang currently serves Chief Strategy Officer of Thorne HealthTech. Previously, Dr. Bodi Zhang has served as Chief Science Officer for Onegevity Health, LLC from January 2018 until its merger with our company in March 2021. Prior to his current role, Dr. Zhang served as Vice President, Corporate and Medical Strategy from January 2015 to 2018, and as General Manager, Strategic Alliance from January 2013 to 2015. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Zhang worked at Deallus Group, a global healthcare consultancy. Prior to the Deallus Group, Dr. Zhang was a Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Tufts University, Boston. As a scientist, Bodi’s research focused on autoimmune diseases and published top-tier research publications, including in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Nature Reviews. Dr. Zhang holds a Ph.D in Pharmacology and Biochemistry from Tufts University, Boston, an M.P.H in healthcare management from Harvard University, Boston and a M.D. from Peking University, China.

 

Dayle Sampson

Vice President, Bioinformatics
Elysium Health

Dayle Sampson

Vice President, Bioinformatics
Elysium Health

Dayle Sampson

Vice President, Bioinformatics
Elysium Health
 

Courtney Stanton

CEO, Americas; Global Head of Strategy & Sales
Bioseutica

Courtney Stanton

CEO, Americas; Global Head of Strategy & Sales
Bioseutica

Courtney Stanton

CEO, Americas; Global Head of Strategy & Sales
Bioseutica
 

Eva Hurt

Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs North America
Coca-Cola

Eva Hurt

Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs North America
Coca-Cola

Eva Hurt

Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs North America
Coca-Cola
 

Jin-Xiong She

Founder & CEO
Jinfiniti Precision Medicine

Jin-Xiong She

Founder & CEO
Jinfiniti Precision Medicine

Jin-Xiong She

Founder & CEO
Jinfiniti Precision Medicine
 

Barry Didato

President
Rä Foods

Barry Didato

President
Rä Foods

Barry Didato

President
Rä Foods
 

Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi

Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine
Blue Shield of California

Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi

Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine
Blue Shield of California

Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi

Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine
Blue Shield of California
 

Monica Feldman

Founder
Longevity Ruler Inc

Monica Feldman

Founder
Longevity Ruler Inc

Monica Feldman

Founder
Longevity Ruler Inc
 

Holly Jackson

Ventures Director
Danone Manifesto Ventures

Holly Jackson

Ventures Director
Danone Manifesto Ventures

Holly Jackson

Ventures Director
Danone Manifesto Ventures
 

Julia McCalmont

Vice President, Global R&D, Head for VMS/Nutrition Health & LATAM
Bayer

Julia McCalmont

Vice President, Global R&D, Head for VMS/Nutrition Health & LATAM
Bayer

Julia McCalmont

Vice President, Global R&D, Head for VMS/Nutrition Health & LATAM
Bayer
 

Emily Stein

CEO
Primal Therapies

Emily Stein

CEO
Primal Therapies

Emily Stein

CEO
Primal Therapies
 

Dean Kelly

CEO
Gainful

Dean Kelly

CEO
Gainful

Dean Kelly

CEO
Gainful
 

Arpesh Mehta

Investment Director
DSM Venturing

Arpesh Mehta

Investment Director
DSM Venturing

Arpesh Mehta

Investment Director
DSM Venturing
 

Shelley Balanko

Senior Vice President
The Hartman Group

Shelley Balanko has an informed understanding of social and cultural influences impacting the marketplace of today and tomorrow. Shelley regularly engages diverse audiences spanning the foodservice, consumer packaged goods and retail segments as she shares leading-edge consumer insights and implications. As a member of The Hartman Group leadership team and head of business development, her focus is understanding industry challenges and needs.

Shelley Balanko

Senior Vice President
The Hartman Group

Shelley Balanko

Senior Vice President
The Hartman Group

Shelley Balanko has an informed understanding of social and cultural influences impacting the marketplace of today and tomorrow. Shelley regularly engages diverse audiences spanning the foodservice, consumer packaged goods and retail segments as she shares leading-edge consumer insights and implications. As a member of The Hartman Group leadership team and head of business development, her focus is understanding industry challenges and needs.

Shelley graduated from the University of Windsor with a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology. She has a MA in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan and a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia.

 

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb has been at Mattson since 1997 and is currently Chief Innovation &
Marketing Officer at North America’s most successful independent developer of
foods and beverages for the retail food and chain restaurant industries. Barb is
known as a taste, food trend, innovation, consumer insights, and product
development expert.
As part of Barb’s role in the innovation projects that make up her daily job, she is
required to taste food and figure out how to make it better. After more than 2

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb has been at Mattson since 1997 and is currently Chief Innovation &
Marketing Officer at North America’s most successful independent developer of
foods and beverages for the retail food and chain restaurant industries. Barb is
known as a taste, food trend, innovation, consumer insights, and product
development expert.
As part of Barb’s role in the innovation projects that make up her daily job, she is
required to taste food and figure out how to make it better. After more than 2
decades doing this, she’s honed her tasting skills and ability to help others make
food taste better. She shared this insight with the world in 2012 when her book
Taste What You’re Missing was published. In 2013, the paperback edition was
released (under the simplified title Taste).
Barb was instrumental in helping The San Francisco Cooking School integrate
the science of taste into their curriculum. She now teaches the Fundamentals of
Taste to each entering class. Barb is also a contributor to Forbes.com where she
writes about the food industry.
Barb lives with her hypertaster husband, two artisan cats, and splits her time
between San Francisco and Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonona wine country.

 

Rick Weiss

President, Founder & Chief Wellness Officer
Viocare

Rick Weiss

President, Founder & Chief Wellness Officer
Viocare

Rick Weiss

President, Founder & Chief Wellness Officer
Viocare
 

Alison Minter

Managing Partner
North Partners

Alison Minter

Managing Partner
North Partners

Alison Minter

Managing Partner
North Partners
 

Quinn Kennedy

Director, Aging Research
neuroFit

Dr. Quinn Kennedy earned a PhD in Psychology and completed postdoctoral training in Cognitive Aging, both at Stanford University.  She is the Director of Aging Research at neuroFit.  Previously, Dr. Kennedy was a Research Associate Professor and Director of the Healthcare Modeling & Simulation Education Programs at the Naval Postgraduate School, where she was the recipient of the Richard Hamming Interdisciplinary Research Achievement Award.  Dr.

Quinn Kennedy

Director, Aging Research
neuroFit

Quinn Kennedy

Director, Aging Research
neuroFit

Dr. Quinn Kennedy earned a PhD in Psychology and completed postdoctoral training in Cognitive Aging, both at Stanford University.  She is the Director of Aging Research at neuroFit.  Previously, Dr. Kennedy was a Research Associate Professor and Director of the Healthcare Modeling & Simulation Education Programs at the Naval Postgraduate School, where she was the recipient of the Richard Hamming Interdisciplinary Research Achievement Award.  Dr. Kennedy’s 20+ years of research in adult aging has been recognized through multiple awards, grants, and peer reviewed journal publications including Psychological SciencePsychology of Aging, and Journals of Gerontology.  With her collaborators, her work has been featured on Channel 2 news, NPR,  The New York TimesSan Francisco Chronicle, and Science. Dr. Kennedy is a popular speaker on healthy cognitive aging and is a guest contributor to Psychology Today

 

Bob Messerschmidt

Founder & CEO
the Cor

Bob is the Founder and CEO of Cor Health in San Diego, CA. Cor Health is developing technologies to track inflammation and the impact of lifestyle choices.  We call this Self Health.  Bob is formerly  Director of Platform Architecture, and  Watch architect. He is an Inventor & Entrepreneur with 3 exits in tech and health tech. Bob's career spans more than 25 years in the field of instrumentation for spectroscopy. He was awarded the Williams-Wright Award in 1996 for outstanding contributions to infrared spectroscopy.

Bob Messerschmidt

Founder & CEO
the Cor

Bob Messerschmidt

Founder & CEO
the Cor

Bob is the Founder and CEO of Cor Health in San Diego, CA. Cor Health is developing technologies to track inflammation and the impact of lifestyle choices.  We call this Self Health.  Bob is formerly  Director of Platform Architecture, and  Watch architect. He is an Inventor & Entrepreneur with 3 exits in tech and health tech. Bob's career spans more than 25 years in the field of instrumentation for spectroscopy. He was awarded the Williams-Wright Award in 1996 for outstanding contributions to infrared spectroscopy. He is the author or co-author of 12 articles and book chapters and co-editor of one book on infrared micro-spectroscopy, holds 62 issued and pending US patents.  He is past president of the Coblentz Society, past president of the Rio Grande section of the SAS, a past-president of the Southwestern Connecticut section of the Optical Society of America, and a member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. In his spare time he makes wine, pizza and sourdough.  He and his family live in San Diego California.

 

Hartley Pond

CEO & Co- Founder
Daily Colors

Hartley Pond

CEO & Co- Founder
Daily Colors

Hartley Pond

CEO & Co- Founder
Daily Colors
 

Tim Gerke

President
Allergy Research Group

Tim Gerke is a noteworthy leader of positive disruption who specializes in strategies harmonizing people, process, and technology to take organizations to the next level in growth and profitability.  With a passion to drive success for all stakeholders in human and animal health, Tim loves innovating business strategies that focus on an overall proactive approach in making sustainable health a centerpiece to a better world.

Tim Gerke

President
Allergy Research Group

Tim Gerke

President
Allergy Research Group

Tim Gerke is a noteworthy leader of positive disruption who specializes in strategies harmonizing people, process, and technology to take organizations to the next level in growth and profitability.  With a passion to drive success for all stakeholders in human and animal health, Tim loves innovating business strategies that focus on an overall proactive approach in making sustainable health a centerpiece to a better world.

Tim has over 25 years of successful execution on this mission in executive and leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies like Bayer and Deloitte, preparing him to be a dynamic change agent for small to mid-size companies hungry to strengthen their position in the marketplace.  In the last decade Tim has led the repositioning, rebuilding, and turnaround of several companies who were then sold in premium transactions to private equity including FoodScience with the DaVinci, VetriScience, and Pet Naturals brands sold to Wind Point Partners, Clinics Choice as part of the VetsPlus , Inc sold to DW Healthcare Partners, and most recently  rejuvenating the Allergy Research Group, Nutricology, NutriLink and Clinical Education, UK to be sold as an attractive portfolio to WM Partners.  Tim has partnered with numerous companies to reorganize sales and marketing strategy and leadership development, while also consulting to update and clear regulatory hurdles for several contract manufacturers for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. 

Tim is a sought-after speaker for organizations, groups, associations, and non-profits because of his innovative strategies for building effective leadership and culture.  Tim has facilitated hundreds of forums on critical human skills such as trust, emotional intelligence, change management, conflict resolution, and effective communication.

Tim is committed to finding the next innovations that will advance the cause of optimal health for a world in need.

 

Adam Sud

CEO
Plant Based for Positive Change

Adam Sud

CEO
Plant Based for Positive Change

Adam Sud

CEO
Plant Based for Positive Change
 

Momo Vuyisich

Founding Chief Science Officer & Head of Clinical Research
Viome

Momo Vuyisich, Ph.D. is the Founding CSO & Head of Clinical Research at Viome. Momo is an entrepreneur-scientist with over 25 years of R&D experience in biology, chemistry, and bioinformatics. He has led large programs, from ideas to successful commercial products. 

Momo Vuyisich

Founding Chief Science Officer & Head of Clinical Research
Viome

Momo Vuyisich

Founding Chief Science Officer & Head of Clinical Research
Viome

Momo Vuyisich, Ph.D. is the Founding CSO & Head of Clinical Research at Viome. Momo is an entrepreneur-scientist with over 25 years of R&D experience in biology, chemistry, and bioinformatics. He has led large programs, from ideas to successful commercial products. 

 

Claire Chang

General Partner
IgniteXL Ventures

About igniteXL Ventures

igniteXL Venturs is a Silicon Valley-based global seed fund investing in game-changing entrepreneurs at the intersection of technology, beauty and wellness.   With the advancement of technology and the rise of conscious consumers who demand authenticity, sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity, the wellness industry is undergoing digital and cultural transformation. And that transformation represents excellent investment opportunities to investors with high margins, recurring and engaged customers, with attractive exit opportunities. 

Claire Chang

General Partner
IgniteXL Ventures

Claire Chang

General Partner
IgniteXL Ventures

About igniteXL Ventures

igniteXL Venturs is a Silicon Valley-based global seed fund investing in game-changing entrepreneurs at the intersection of technology, beauty and wellness.   With the advancement of technology and the rise of conscious consumers who demand authenticity, sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity, the wellness industry is undergoing digital and cultural transformation. And that transformation represents excellent investment opportunities to investors with high margins, recurring and engaged customers, with attractive exit opportunities. 

 

About Claire Chang

Having immigrated from Korea to the US when she was 12 years old, Claire is bilingual and bicultural, which has always given her the unique perspective of being both an insider and outsider able to bridge different perspectives.  Combining her passions for connecting people and helping them realize their dreams, Claire launched a global accelerator in 2014 which impacted over 200 Korean startups' ability to expand to the US market.  In 2018, Claire launched SVBeautyTech, the first-ever independent beauty-tech accelerator, to provide a cohort of mostly female beauty-tech founders access to the Silicon Valley resources previously enjoyed almost exclusively by male, locally networked tech entrepreneurs.  Leveraging her global accelerator network and broad brand connections, Claire is excited to work with passionate innovators and disruptors working at the intersection of technology, beauty & wellness.

 

Yaqi Gao Grover

Partner
Lever VC

Yaqi Gao Grover

Partner
Lever VC

Yaqi Gao Grover

Partner
Lever VC
 

Susan Roddy

Managing Director, Consumer Health & Personal Care
Houlihan Lokey

Ms. Roddy is a senior member of Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer, Food & Retail Group, leading the firm’s Consumer Health and Personal Care practice. Her focus areas include health & wellness and personal care, including women’s health and intimacy, healthy aging and mom & baby. 

Susan Roddy

Managing Director, Consumer Health & Personal Care
Houlihan Lokey

Susan Roddy

Managing Director, Consumer Health & Personal Care
Houlihan Lokey

Ms. Roddy is a senior member of Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer, Food & Retail Group, leading the firm’s Consumer Health and Personal Care practice. Her focus areas include health & wellness and personal care, including women’s health and intimacy, healthy aging and mom & baby. 

Ms. Roddy has nearly two decades of corporate finance experience, with a particular passion for advising high-growth consumer brands. Her recent work includes the sales of Zesty Paws to H&H Group, Nuun to Nestlé Health Science, SmartyPants to Unilever, Care/of to Bayer, and Zarbee’s to Johnson & Johnson. She also has significant expertise in corporate carve-outs and divestitures, as well as contract manufacturing and private label across sectors.

Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Ms. Roddy worked in Corporate Strategy & Development at PepsiCo, where she led deal execution in Europe and was responsible for executing the company’s strategy to expand into good-for-you and better-for-you food & beverage categories. Prior to that, she worked in Investment Banking for Deutsche Bank and as an accountant for Ernst & Young.

Ms. Roddy holds a B.S. in Accounting from Bucknell University and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She was previously a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Pennsylvania (expired).

 

Vineeta Singh

Director, Research & Development
Herbalife

Vineeta Singh

Director, Research & Development
Herbalife

Vineeta Singh

Director, Research & Development
Herbalife
 

Nate Matsusheski

Chief Science Officer
Hologram Sciences

Nate Matsusheski

Chief Science Officer
Hologram Sciences

Nate Matsusheski

Chief Science Officer
Hologram Sciences
 

Steven Gwozdz

Principal & Angel Investor
Laurel Heights Equity Partners

Steve is an angel investor supporting and advising emerging companies in health and wellness, consumer finance, and consumer services. He is a cornerstone investor in the Nutrition Capital Network, where he serves on the selection committee for their capital introduction events. Early in his career, Steve was an early member of the team driving the growth at Nantucket Nectars, a better-for-you beverage start up which realized a successful exit to a strategic.

Steven Gwozdz

Principal & Angel Investor
Laurel Heights Equity Partners

Steven Gwozdz

Principal & Angel Investor
Laurel Heights Equity Partners

Steve is an angel investor supporting and advising emerging companies in health and wellness, consumer finance, and consumer services. He is a cornerstone investor in the Nutrition Capital Network, where he serves on the selection committee for their capital introduction events. Early in his career, Steve was an early member of the team driving the growth at Nantucket Nectars, a better-for-you beverage start up which realized a successful exit to a strategic.  Steve has since built a career advising institutional asset managers on their public equity investments in emerging and developed markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. 

 

Yi Sherry Zhang

Founder & CSO
GenoPalate

Yi Sherry Zhang

Founder & CSO
GenoPalate

Yi Sherry Zhang

Founder & CSO
GenoPalate
 

Ari Tulla

CEO & CO-Founder
Elo Health

Ari Tulla is a San Francisco-based entrepreneur and the co-founder & CEO of the smart nutrition service, Elo, whose mission is to transform food from the leading cause of disease to medicine. Ari is also an active angel investor and advisor with a portfolio of 40 startups, including Virta Health, Good Eggs, and Ōura. 
 

Ari Tulla

CEO & CO-Founder
Elo Health

Ari Tulla

CEO & CO-Founder
Elo Health

Ari Tulla is a San Francisco-based entrepreneur and the co-founder & CEO of the smart nutrition service, Elo, whose mission is to transform food from the leading cause of disease to medicine. Ari is also an active angel investor and advisor with a portfolio of 40 startups, including Virta Health, Good Eggs, and Ōura. 
 
Previously, Ari was the CEO of Quest Analytics, the market leader in doctor data and network management. Ari led the company through a pivotal growth stage from $15M to $40M in revenue. Before joining Quest Analytics, Ari was co-founder and CEO of BetterDoctor, a doctor search engine. 
 
BetterDoctor raised $30M from first-tier investors, including NEA and Uncork Capital. In June 2018, BetterDoctor was acquired by private equity firm Vestar Capital. Before BetterDoctor, Ari led Nokia’s game and application studios. 
 
When not working or co-parenting his two young children with his wife, Ari spends his time on the steep cliffs, powdery slopes, and big cold waves that only Northern California can offer.

 

Marc Washington

Founder & CEO
Supergut

Marc Washington

Founder & CEO
Supergut

Marc Washington

Founder & CEO
Supergut
 

Christopher Bailey

Director of Scientific Affairs
Gencor

Christopher Bailey, Ph.D.

Christopher Bailey

Director of Scientific Affairs
Gencor

Christopher Bailey

Director of Scientific Affairs
Gencor

Christopher Bailey, Ph.D. serves as Gencor’s Director of Scientific Affairs.  After earning his doctorate in exercise physiology at the University of Miami, Christopher has accumulated experience in the dietary supplement industry in several areas by working with direct-to-consumer brands and raw material manufacturing and distribution companies in regulatory and scientific affairs.  Christopher now translates data on Gencor’s latest ingredients into content to be shared and used by product formulation, marketing, and brand teams for dietary supplements, functional foods, and personal care products.

 

Lynn Yu

Nutrition Lead
The Kraft Heinz Company

Lynn Yu

Nutrition Lead
The Kraft Heinz Company

Lynn Yu

Nutrition Lead
The Kraft Heinz Company
 

Ashley Ferguson

Chief Commercial Officer
Disruption Labs

Ashley Ferguson

Chief Commercial Officer
Disruption Labs

Ashley Ferguson

Chief Commercial Officer
Disruption Labs
 

Jodi Katz

Founder & Creative Director
BASE BEAUTY CREATIVE AGENCY™

Jodi’s career has spanned the quickly evolving communications marketplace. She started her career agency-side at BBDO, followed by jobs with magazine publishers, digital start ups and beauty brands. Prior to launching Base Beauty, Jodi was the Creative Director of the global prestige French brand L’Occitane en Provence. She graduated from
Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania with a degree in Government in Law and lives with her family in New Jersey. Her hobbies include fitness, Rent the Runway and watching reality TV on Bravo (her current favorite show is Below Deck).

Jodi Katz

Founder & Creative Director
BASE BEAUTY CREATIVE AGENCY™

Jodi Katz

Founder & Creative Director
BASE BEAUTY CREATIVE AGENCY™

Jodi’s career has spanned the quickly evolving communications marketplace. She started her career agency-side at BBDO, followed by jobs with magazine publishers, digital start ups and beauty brands. Prior to launching Base Beauty, Jodi was the Creative Director of the global prestige French brand L’Occitane en Provence. She graduated from
Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania with a degree in Government in Law and lives with her family in New Jersey. Her hobbies include fitness, Rent the Runway and watching reality TV on Bravo (her current favorite show is Below Deck).

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Based on your objectives, we can create bespoke packages designed specifically for you – from presenting your expertise on the main stage, to hosting a private dinner. You can partner with us showcase your brand and make valuable new connections. Opportunities predominantly lie in 3 main categories: Thought Leadership, Branding & Networking.

To discuss your objectives and partnership opportunities please contact [email protected] 

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Hotel Dena, 303 Cordova Street, Pasadena, CA, 91101

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About Kisaco Research

Kisaco Research produces, designs and hosts B2B industry conferences, exhibitions and communities – focused on a specialized selection of topic areas.

Meet industry peers that will help build a career-changing network for life.

Learn from the mistakes of your peers as much as their successes—ambitious industry stalwarts who are happy to share not just what has made them successful so far but also their plans for future proofing their companies.

Note down the inspired insight that will form the foundation for future strategies and roadmaps, both at our events and through our online communities.

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