Why Attend
Welcome to the Microbiome Consumer Nutrition Congress
The global probiotics market is expected to be worth $64 Bn by 2024, an increase of $20bn from 2017. Rising consumer consciousness around personal healthcare and diet coupled with substantial improvements in R&D is fueling a new wave of products that promote human gut health and wellbeing.
Whether you’re developing foods, beverages, nutritional supplements, pre- / pro- biotics or infant formulas, join our network of leading nutrition and consumer goods companies, food and nutritional supplement start-ups, ingredients suppliers, formulation experts, entrepreneurs and leading academics to address the challenges and opportunities of developing the next generation of gut health products.
The Microbiome Consumer Nutrition Congress connects science and business in the pre-/pro-biotic and microbiome fields to transform microbiome R&D into successful and effective consumer products.
Also on-site will be our 2nd Skin Microbiome West Coast Congress, individual as well combined tickets will be available.
Who Will Be There
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartIndependent Nutrition Companies35%
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartInvestors10%
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartMultinational Nutrition and Consumer Health Companies25%
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartIngredients and Product Forumlators15%
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartRetailers10%
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Kisaco Audience Breakdown ChartNutritionists5%
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Independent Nutrition Companies35%
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Investors10%
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Multinational Nutrition and Consumer Health Companies25%
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Ingredients and Product Forumlators15%
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Retailers10%
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Nutritionists5%
The Speakers
Alan Murray
Aubrey Levitt
Aubrey is the co-founder of Postbiotics Plus, a microbiome start-up researching adjunct therapies that protect the gut from assault.
She previously founded a tonic and elixir company, Body + Eden, which was featured in Oprah Magazine, Elle, Well & Good and Japan Vogue and partnered with brands such as One & Only Resorts, Wallpaper Handmade, and The Tracy Anderson Method.
Aubrey speaks often about gut health and the microbiome, and has created courses for nutrition schools. She holds a BA from Boston University in Advertising and won an award for best women’s health resource while at Grey Healthcare. She also holds an MFA in creative writing and has been a guest lecturer on product adoption at the New School.
Ben Goodwin
Ben Goodwin is a Californian based product developer and entrepreneur who specializes in digestive/microbiome health and increasing the broad accessibility and scientific rigor of health oriented Consumer Packaged Goods. Now on his third digestive-health beverage venture OLIPOP, Ben has been a product formulator for over a decade with a specific focus on fiber/prebiotics, probiotics and scaled fermentation systems.
Ben’s passion for mass microbiome health stems from his own background making healthier dietary decisions as a teenager and the benefits he experienced in both his physical and mental health as a result. His life mission is oriented around increasing the accessibility and desirability of healthy packaged goods, and believes in a future where mass processed foods are as tasty as they are fundamentally healthy for the average person. In addition to health and wellness, Ben also has been DJing for over a decade and runs the electronic music site FWD.DJ.
For more information please see drinkolipop.com
Caroline Beckman
Caroline Beckman is an American entrepreneur who began her career in the health industry during her teenage years. At 18 years old she joined Suja Juice, one of the fastest growing beverage brands in history, as a founding employee. After dropping out of university to pursue further health research, she was backed by tech entrepreneur, founder of PayPal, and first investor in Facebook, Peter Thiel. Currently 25 years old, Caroline has founded, advised and invested in over 10 food and beverage companies.
Caroline is excited to now introducing her new venture Nouri, a biotechnology company created to increase mental and physical health globally. Nouri is focused on innovating and delivering clinically-supported solutions to gut and brain health. Nouri's first consumer product line delivers proprietary probiotic blends encapsulated within plant-based omegas 3,6, and 9 (Ahiflower oil).
Dale Pfost
Dale Pfost, PhD, has 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur, investor and business executive. His areas of expertise include biotechnology, high-tech, corporate strategy and corporate governance. Dale has been the founding CEO of five biotechnology companies, three of which became publicly traded with valuations of over $2 billion. Dale has successfully completed 22 financings with dollar totals in the hundreds of millions. He has overseen M&A deals for nine companies and served as a director at multiple public and private firms.
Dale was recently the US-based General Partner at Advent Life Sciences, a leading life sciences venture capital fund in London, and is the acting CEO of a microbiome company, Microbiome Therapeutics. Dale has extensive experience in successfully growing early-stage companies to exits via trade-sales or IPO, including Infinitek/Biomek (sold to SmithKline Beckman), Oxford GlycoSciences (eventual IPO), Orchid BioSciences (IPO), Acuity Pharmaceuticals (reverse merger to form OPKO Heath), Receptor BioLogix (sold to Symphogen).
He has served as a director at about 10 private and public firms, is the co-author of multiple scientific papers and an inventor on 10 patents. Dale has been active in supporting angel investors and local life science start-ups. He earned a BS degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a PhD in physics from Brown University. He has homes in New Orleans and Los Altos, California, and holds a private pilot license.
David Crean
David H. Crean, Ph.D is a Managing Director at Objective Capital Partners where he leads the firm’s life science investment banking transactions. Dr. Crean has in excess of 20 years of life sciences R&D and corporate development transactional experience in the pharmaceutical industry where he was responsible for leading mergers, acquisitions, licensing and collaborations, and establishing corporate strategy. David’s transaction experience in the life sciences sector includes sell-side, buy-side, licensing and capital raising activities. He has supported company and client engagements in both U.S. domestic and foreign transactions including Japan, China and Europe.
Prior to joining Objective Capital Partners, Dr. Crean served over 20 years in specialty pharmaceuticals; namely at Allergan (NYSE:AGN) and Aqua Pharmaceuticals, a private equity-backed company, prior to being sold to Almirall, SA. (BME:ALM). Dr. Crean has led transaction execution in a wide range of specialty areas including aesthetic and therapeutic dermatology, OTC skin care, neurological disorders / CNS, pain, inflammation, ophthalmology, oncology and diagnostics/ detection. His corporate pharmaceutical experience spans research and development expertise in small molecules, biologics, prescription drugs, OTC products and medical devices.
Dr. Crean’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology leadership experience includes serving in key leadership roles in the development and/or growth of many commercial portfolios including: BOTOX, LUMIGAN, JUVEDERM, LATISSE, ACZONE, TAZORAC, MONODOX, FLUOROPLEX, XOLEGEL and VERDESO. Concurrent with Objective Capital, Dr. Crean serves as a strategic business advisor for several life science companies, is an active member on BIOCOM’s Capital Development Committee and BIO International 2017 Partnering Committee and a contributing member on the Membership & Program Committees for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in San Diego.
Dr. Crean holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree with a finance concentration from Pepperdine University School of Management. Additionally, he holds a Doctorate of Philosophy Degree in Biophysics and a Masters of Science Degree in Oncology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Crean also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Canisius College.
Dr. Crean holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licenses and is a Registered Representative of BA Securities LLC, Member FINRA SIPC.
David Gauger
David Gauger is co-founded of Gauger + Associates, a marketing communications firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm provides strategic planning, branding, package design, interactive marketing, content creation and advertising programs for a wide variety of visionary businesses. Much of the Agency’s work is for CPG and ingredient manufacturers in the health and wellness sector.
David has taught Green & Social Marketing, Advertising, Graphic Design and Advanced Visual Communications at the university level. His agency’s work has garnered hundreds of creative awards in the US, Europe and Asia.
David Kyle
Talk to me about… your research
I am the Chairman and CSO of Evolve Biosystems Inc and a 30-year veteran of biotech having co-founded a range of successful biotech companies in the fields of nutrition and health. These include Martek Biosciences that focuses on DHA and ARA nutrition for infants, which was acquired by DSM in 2011 for $1.1 Billion and Evolve BioSystems the leader in the field of the infant microbiome. I am trained as a biochemist and have spent most of my career working with mothers and babies, focusing specifically on infant nutrition.
Talk to me about…something people may not know about you
I am the named inventor on over 250 patents and was inducted into the US Technology Hall of Fame in 200 for my contributions to Science and Industry. I am passionately engaged in bringing new technologies into commerce to improve the life-long health trajectory of all infants worldwide
Garrett Ruhland
Grégory Lambert
Pharmacist and Ph.D. in pharmaceutical technology, Gregory’s carrier is split between Biotech and Pharma where he occupied the positions of Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Gregory drove the development of a number of drugs, medical devices and food supplement from the laboratory to market. Since 2014, Gregory is the CEO of TargEDys.
José Carlos Garcia Garcia
Justin Sonnenburg
Dr. Sonnenburg's lab is interested in the basic principles that govern interactions within the intestinal microbiota and between the microbiota and the host. To pursue these aims, they colonize germ-free (gnotobiotic) mice with simplified, model microbial communities, apply systems approaches (e.g. functional genomics), and use genetic tools for the host and microbes to gain mechanistic insight into emergent properties of the host-microbial super-organism.
Kate Brunson
Kevin Honaker
Kevin Honaker is co-founder and CEO of BiomeSense, an early stage life sciences startup developing a novel biosensor that enables continuous gut microbiome tracking in the home. Kevin has worked in health care for the past 7 years and is passionate about identifying, developing and commercializing new technologies that can improve health. Prior to joining BiomeSense, he led operations for PrescriptIQ, a pharmacogenomics startup, primarily responsible for strategic planning, finance, and product development. Kevin earned an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Len Monheit
A recognized industry analyst and thought leader, Len Monheit has over 20 years experience in the natural products and dietary supplement industry, with over 15 years background in digital media. Monheit has participated in dozens of speaking engagements across four continents, talking about best business practices, industry trends across the health and wellness industries, and success factors for international business development.
With a background in Biopharma and biotechnology, and as General Manager of a contract research and analytical lab, Monheit, in 1999, co-founded NPIcenter, which grew over the subsequent 8 years, to be the largest online media enterprise in the North American Natural Products industry. Selling that to Penton Media’s New Hope Natural Media in 2006, Monheit joined Penton/New Hope as digital media director, ingredient portfolio manager, market leader and ultimately Executive Director of Strategic Business Development.
Taking on the role of General Manager, US, with UK-based William Reed Business Media, Monheit, over three years, introduced two new annual conferences to the US (Food Vision and Probiota) and was responsible for a tradeshow launch (The Healthy & Natural Show) in Chicago in May of 2016. Monheit had responsibility for all of William Reed’s activities in the Americas, including FoodNavigator-USA, NutraIngredients-USA, as well as Pharma and Cosmetics publications, in addition to international partnerships and growth projects.
Michael Bush
Mike has more than 25 years of experience leading venture-backed businesses in the natural products, healthcare and bioinformatics industries. As president and CEO of probiotic innovator Ganeden, Michael grew the market of the company’s patented ingredient to over 65 countries and more than 1,000 SKUS, culminating with the 2017 merger with Kerry, Inc. Additionally, he founded a national business growth consultancy firm, co-founded a national biomedical services firm and led acquisitions and merger activities for a global medical services company.
Mike Rogers
Nalin Siriwardhana
Momo Vuyisich
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.
Olaf Larsen
Talk to me about… your research
I studied chemistry at the VU University Amsterdam, where I progressed to obtain a PhD in biophysics from the same university.
Following my postdoctoral research in New York City and Amsterdam, I began my career within the industry. I worked for both ASML, and TNO, and as a life sciences consultant within various organizations.
Since 2012, I've headed the science department at Yakult Nederland, and since 2016, I have been a part time assistant professor at the VU University.
My research focuses on the valorization of microbiota management as well as mathematical simulations of the gut microbiota.
Rend Al-Mondhiry
Rend Al-Mondhiry advises the dietary supplement, food, cosmetic, and over-the-counter medicine industries on a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters. She is committed to helping companies responsibly develop and market products, drawing on her years of experience advising the nation’s leading dietary supplement and food companies on complex ingredient and labeling issues.
Rend’s practice focuses on reviewing product labeling, ingredients, and advertising to determine compliance with federal and state regulations, and assisting companies in matters before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and National Adverting Division (NAD). She also advises clients on compliance with California’s Proposition 65, U.S. Customs issues, class action defense strategies, and FDA matters including Warning Letters, recalls, detentions, seizures, and import alerts.
Richard Cleland
Mr. Cleland joined the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices in 1991. In 1996, Mr. Cleland was appointed Assistant to the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection and, in 1998, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Division of Service Industry Practices.
He currently serves as Assistant Director of the Division of Advertising Practices. His primary area of expertise is the advertising and marketing of health-related products and services. He also supervises many of the Commission’s health fraud and weight-loss product and service law enforcement initiatives.
Mr. Cleland supervised the FTC’s review of the Endorsement and Testimonial Guides and the revision of the FTC’s guidance on making effective disclosures on the Internet and other digital platforms (.com Disclosures). Recent projects have included social media marketing and native advertising.
Sean O'Sullivan
Sean O’Sullivan is managing partner of SOSV, the world-leading “Accelerator VC”. SOSV invests $50 million per year and backs more than 150 new startups annually through its accelerators. Recognized in 2017 as the world’s #1 most active global early stage investor and the #2 most active global seed investor*, SOSV is also the #1 most active investor in hardware and life sciences, helping startups get further and go faster.
* Crunchbase: "Global Innovation Investment Report - 2016 Year in Review"
Sunny Jain
With over 20 years of Molecular and Microbiology experience, Sun Genomics’ founder and CEO Sunny Jain originally had the idea for Floré after struggling to solve his own young son’s gut health issues with generic probiotics from the shelves. Sunny took it upon himself to create a custom probiotic that worked for his son, and now aims to do the same for the hundreds of millions of people who suffer from gut health issues worldwide.
Before starting Sun Genomics, Sunny worked at Illumina for seven years. He was part of the team to establish the Illumina Clinical Services Laboratory and went on to sequence the first whole human genome in a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. Prior to Illumina, Sunny worked for Labcorp in the molecular oncology laboratory and has over 20 years of experience in commercializing biomarkers.
Ted Jin
Terry Tormey
Terrence “Terry” Tormey is CEO at Kibow Biotech, Inc., Pennsylvania, a 21-year old R&D company, which is arguably the pioneering company focused on the Gut Microbiome for a variety of serious illnesses.
Having launched and/or supported dozens of Rx products and scores of non-prescription products Mr. Tormey is an expert in Healthcare Marketing within the US and Global BioPharma Industry.
Bala Ganesan
Dr Diana Oram
Noah Voreadas
Raja Sivamani, M.D., M.S., A.P.
Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine. He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine and our understanding of the gut-skin axis.
Official job titles:
Dermatologist, Pacific Skin Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology, UC Davis
Assistant Professor, CSU - Sacramento
Associate Professor of Dermatology, CNU College of Medicine
Ivan Wasserman
Ivan Wasserman is the Managing Partner of the leading regulatory, intellectual property, and litigation law firm Amin Talati Wasserman LLP. Noted for expertise in foods, dietary supplement, and cosmetics, Ivan and his team represent clients before the FDA, the FTC, the CPSC, State Attorneys General, and in class action litigation. Ivan also serves as counsel to the International Probiotics Association, is a frequent speaker and author on regulatory issues, and has been included in Best Lawyers in America from 2007 to 2019.
Event Partners
Loop Genomics
Website: www.loopgenomics.com
Loop Genomics develops and commercializes Loopseq, a technology for accurate long-read DNA sequencing. Loopseq is a sample prep and software combination that transforms all Illumina sequencers into high-throughput, long-read, highly accurate single-molecule counting sequencing machines. The technology is a general purpose, providing accurate long-read sequencing solutions across a diverse repertoire of sequencing applications.
In the protein engineering space, LoopSeq enables, for the first time, accurate long-read characterization of complex variant libraries and high-throughput long-read clonal sequencing using Illumina sequencers. It's unique barcoding technology removes PCR bias, produces highly accurate long-reads and removes critical bottlenecks in the protein engineering workflow.
Diversigen
Website: https://diversigen.com/
Diversigen – Your Expert Source of Reliable Microbiome/Metagenomics Services and Insights
Leverage Diversigen’s CLIA/CAP-accredited microbiome profiling/bioinformatics services across the entire clinical research project lifecycle:
- Quality Leadership - Proven expertise, CLIA/CAP accredited
- Experienced - Pre-clinical studies, large clinical trials to single individual analysis
- Consultative/customized study support
- Breadth of services -16S/metagenomics (WGS)/qPCR development
- Flexible, agnostic bio-informatic pipelines/combined bio-statistical analysis
For more information, visit www.diversigen.com
Comet Bio
Website: www.comet-bio.com/
Comet Bio is a manufacturer of award-winning healthy and sustainable ingredients based in London, Ontario and Schaumburg, Illinois. The company upcycles crop leftovers into healthy and sustainable ingredients for use in supplements, foods, and beverages.
The company’s two flagship products are Sweeterra™ syrup blends and Arabinoxylan dietary fiber that are natural and healthy without compromising on taste or performance.
Their ingredients are better for the planet because they reduce greenhouse gases and help farmers take advantage of their whole harvest. For more information, visit http://comet-bio.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @cometbio.
General Automation Lab Technologies
Website: www.galt-inc.com
Please visit our website for more information.PARTNER WITH US
Based on your objectives, we can create bespoke packages designed specifically for you. Opportunities predominantly lie in 3 main categories: Thought Leadership, Branding, and Networking.
Interested in a media partnership?
We'd love to hear from you and how we can support one another to connect with the industry. Contact [email protected]
The Agenda
The pre and probiotics market is growing at a staggering pace, consumer interest in gut health has skyrocketed and the industry is forecast to reach $64bn USD by 2022. Combined with substantial improvements in microbiome R&D, organizations in this space are booming. Please use the form to download the agenda for the Microbiome Consumer Nutrition Congress, and see the high caliber of speakers we have for the event.
Download Full Agenda
Venue
1625 Post St, San Francisco, California, United States, 94115
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Payment Terms for the the Microbiome Conference:
- Please note that a $79 processing fee will apply to any invoices requested.
- * You must email us a signed letter from the Hospital / Clinic Supervisor or University / Laboratory with confirmation of your status upon payment
- All Prices are in USD
- All Early Bird discount prices, including Group Discounts, must be paid in full by deadlines provided above.
- All discount offers cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Please view our Cancellation Policy.
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