Newsletter 11: An Interview with a Persephone Biosciences Co-Founder

Nearly 2,500 years ago, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates stated, “all disease begins in the gut.”  Fast forward to today, we now know that the human gut microbiome contains most of our DNA, it helps us metabolize important vitamins, and it plays a major role in keeping our immune system healthy.  Stephanie Culler and her co-founder, Steve Van Dien, founded Persephone Biosciences seven years ago to use novel research to scientifically restore and reinvigorate the human gut microbiome.  The work Persephone Biosciences is doing to find treatments for cancer, and now consumable products to help infants and adults improve their health, is truly inspiring.

Below is the transcript of a conversation between Persephone Biosciences CEO Stephanie Culler (SC) and Ocampo Capital’s CEO Karl Bracken (KB) from October 18^th, 2024.

KB: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, Stephanie.  I know you are busy with far more important work at Persephone Biosciences, so we appreciate it.  To begin: What is Persephone Biosciences?

SC: Persephone Biosciences is a research and product company focused on restoring and reinvigorating the human gut microbiome through clinically validated synergistic synbiotics.

KB: What inspired you to start Persephone Biosciences?

SC: My passion for solving health problems began when I lost both of my grandmothers to cancer during my teenage years. During my PhD at Caltech, I developed new gene therapy applications for cancer. After completing my PhD, I wanted to build a company around my thesis, but the timing wasn’t right due to economic conditions.

To broaden my expertise, I joined Genomatica, an industrial biotechnology company, to develop my skills in synthetic biology and gain industry experience. It was there that I met my co-founder, Steve Van Dien. Together, we became experts in commercializing microbial-based technologies. After achieving commercial success, we were ready to start a company that aligned with my personal passion for human health and our deep technical expertise with microbial technologies.

We were captivated by the role of the gut microbiome in health and its links to diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Surprisingly, we found that this space lacked scientific rigor. With our unique background, we believed we could develop a technology platform to unlock the potential of the human gut microbiome to prevent and treat disease.

In the summer of 2017, we founded Persephone with the mission of creating groundbreaking therapies and consumer products that would ultimately lead to a life without disease.

KB: The backgrounds of Persephone’s founders, including yourself, are amazing.  Can you tell me how your experiences helped and hurt you as you started Persephone Biosciences?

SC: Being a scientist is both my superpower and my Achilles' heel. I take pride in the technology we’ve developed and the microbiome products we’ve created to improve lives. However, my scientific background didn’t prepare me for engaging with investors and corporate partners—learning to deliver a compelling elevator pitch was particularly challenging!

Fortunately, with the support of investors like Y Combinator and experienced advisors, we navigated this learning curve effectively.

KB: What have been the most memorable moments or milestones in Persephone’s history, thus far?

SC: There have been many memorable moments, and I’m grateful for the partnership of my co-founder and our R&D team. A major milestone was our Demo Day at Y Combinator, where we presented groundbreaking data showing that our microbiome therapeutic, when combined with a leading immunotherapy drug, significantly reduced cancerous tumors in mice.

Another milestone was the success of our My Baby Biome study. The clinical findings from this study will support the commercial launch of our first-in-class infant synbiotic, set for release early next year.

KB: Like you, I am looking forward to that launch- what an exciting product!  What’s the biggest challenge you have faced thus far as a company?

SC: The biggest challenge has been securing funding while scaling a research organization. The microbiome space is still a relatively new frontier, and identifying investors with a focus on this area has been a learning experience.

KB: What advice would you give other entrepreneurs?

SC: I highly recommend accelerators like Y Combinator. The experience was invaluable—not only did I learn how to engage with investors, but I also gained critical business management skills.

Additionally, bringing on key advisors early, especially those with deep expertise in your field, can be a game-changer.

KB: I must say, one thing that really impressed me early on in my investigation of Persephone was its total openness to partnering with subject matter experts in key disciplines.  Oftentimes I have seen founders, particularly those with gold-plated resumes, want to protect their idea from outside influence.  You are definitely not like that, and I think the Company will be better off because of it.  Somewhat related to that point, what traits in entrepreneurs are most crucial to success, in your experience?

SC: Resilience, grit, and passion. The journey is full of highs and lows, and you need to navigate both with composure and determination.

KB: How do you and your co-founder Steve divvy up work?

SC: From the start, we divided our roles to maximize efficiency. I focus on financing, corporate partnerships, and strategic oversight of research and intellectual property. Steve oversees R&D operations, IP and leads product development efforts.

KB: You have a tremendous Board.  How do you leverage them?

SC: We have an active and engaged Board, with several members serving as advisors since the company’s inception. I rely on them for guidance in product development, financing, and business strategy. One of our board members now serves as a fractional CBO/CFO, providing invaluable support.

KB: What does an ideal Board member look like?

SC: An ideal Board member listens attentively during meetings and provides thoughtful, constructive feedback. They take the time to understand the company in depth and are proactive in offering support. We value that our board members actively roll up their sleeves to help us overcome challenges

KB: I think I already know the answers to this next question.  What are you most excited about over the next year at Persephone Biosciences?

SC: I’m incredibly excited about the commercial launch of our infant synbiotic in Q1 of next year. We plan to launch direct-to-consumer initially, followed by expansion through Amazon and retail channels. We are truly honored to have the support of you (Karl) and Ocampo Capital for this retail rollout and look forward to a successful launch.

KB: What kind of advice do you have for me and Ocampo Capital?

SC: Your mentorship and guidance on our go-to-market strategy for retail have been invaluable. As a small startup, it would have been cost- and time-prohibitive to hire external consultants with the same level of expertise (likely impossible!).

I encourage you and Ocampo Capital to continue providing this kind of hands-on support to your portfolio companies—it truly makes a difference.

KB: I am really excited for the future of Persephone Biosciences, and thrilled to be involved.  Thank you once again for speaking with me, Stephanie!