Laura KatzCo Founder

United States - New York, New York,

I’m the Founder and CEO of Helaina, and a food scientist by training. With our proprietary fermentation process, we’ve created human milk proteins designed to provide the same immunity benefits of breast milk. Helaina uses these proteins in the first ever humanized infant formula. I founded the company on the belief that breastfeeding should not define the health of a child or the worth of a parent.

On a mission to revolutionize the future of nutrition, Helaina has raised over $25 million, including $20 million in Series A funding (co-led by Spark Capital and Siam Capital). We have a lab in New York City where we’re working to program microbes in the production of human proteins and creating a new category of immunity-focused superfoods.

I’m also an adjunct professor in Food Science & Technology at New York University, and was featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2022. Prior to launching Helaina, I developed food products for NUGGS, Plated, and Dylan’s Candy Bar.