Brightseed Partners with Haleon to Revolutionize Plant-Based Health Solutions
[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in Brightseed.]
Brightseed, an innovative startup utilizing AI and machine learning to uncover the nutritional potential of plants and fungi, has formed a strategic partnership with consumer health powerhouse Haleon. This collaboration aims to explore and unlock plant-based small molecules with promising health advantages.
Haleon’s impressive portfolio encompasses brands such as Advil, Panadol, Theraflu, and Centrum, spanning various wellness categories including oral health, pain relief, respiratory health, and dietary supplements.
Collaboration Details
While specifics of the partnership remain confidential, it is confirmed that Brightseed will provide Haleon direct access to its flagship Forager AI platform. This marks a significant shift in Brightseed’s strategy, according to cofounder, president, and CCO Sofia Elizondo.
“Historically, our partners engaged with us to shape our R&D efforts, where we undertook considerable work using Forager and shared the results. However, with Haleon, we are enabling them to utilize Forager on demand, allowing their team to independently access insights relevant to our joint initiatives,” Elizondo explained.
Enhancing Access with AI
Brightseed aims to improve the platform’s usability for external partners by incorporating generative AI tools, allowing users to interact with it via natural language. “This enhancement will make navigation significantly more intuitive,” Elizondo stated.
This approach not only alleviates potential bottlenecks but also supports Brightseed’s scalability efforts. “Our model is evolving to focus on scale, where hands-on engagement is just one of numerous ways partners can utilize our platform,” she added.
Innovative Business Model
Elizondo highlighted that the access to Forager is increasingly being offered on an upfront payment basis, with some clients expressing interest in subscription options for ongoing queries. “This flexibility caters to the varied needs of our customers,” she noted.
AI-Driven Discovery
Founded in 2017 by Sofia Elizondo, Dr. Lee Chae, and Dr. Jim Flatt, Brightseed has curated a comprehensive database of plant-based compounds targeting specific biological functions. The Forager platform facilitates predictions on how previously unknown plant components can offer distinct health benefits while also identifying the ideal methods for their commercial production.
These methods may involve direct extraction from plant sources or leveraging metabolic pathways that plants utilize, potentially guiding precision fermentation processes.
After identifying viable targets, traditional analytical techniques and clinical testing can further validate Brightseed’s computational insights.
Partnering for Growth
To tap into its full potential, Brightseed is not only developing its own bioactives but also collaborating with a diverse array of partners, including industry giants like Haleon, Ocean Spray, and Danone, along with several undisclosed consumer packaged goods companies.
The company has successfully launched its first bioactive product—a fiber extracted from recycled hemp hulls—which features two significant bioactives: N-trans-caffeoyl tyramine (NCT) and N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (NFT). Research suggests these compounds may enhance gut barrier integrity, assist in liver fat clearance, and aid in weight management.
Brightseed’s next offering will be a purified version of NCT and NFT, synthesized through microbial fermentation, making it available for various applications, including capsules, tablets, and ready-to-drink formulations, according to Elizondo.
Unlocking Bioactive Potential
Elizondo elaborated on how Brightseed’s partners seek to uncover new bioactives or further understand the health benefits of existing products. “Some clients leverage Forager for deeper insight into the metabolomic profiles of their offerings, enabling them to market products based on unrecognized bioactives,” she explained.
“It’s about recognizing the hidden value in your products and capitalizing on that,” she stated. Other partners have streamlined processes to validate their findings clinically, bypassing preliminary validation steps thanks to Brightseed’s profiling capabilities.
“For instance, if a partner aims to influence a biological target, they can query Forager to identify potential plant sources and rank relevant bioactives, some of which may be novel,” she explained. This includes providing supplier data for accessible sources or, if necessary, designing metabolic pathways for microbial production.
Strategic Insights for Product Development
In another scenario, a partner sought to focus on a specific biological target within a broad health category. “Despite the overwhelming options available for biological delivery, we helped prioritize which bioactives were most likely to affect the target of interest,” Elizondo remarked.
Through the combination of AI insight and collaboration, Brightseed is paving the way for revolutionary advancements in the health and wellness sector, helping partners unlock the full potential of plant-based solutions.
