Helaina: Helaina Raises $20M to Launch a Breast Milk Alternative with Near Human Milk Proteins

Breast milk is said to have the perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat for a baby's development. Natural breast milk also boosts a baby's immune system by providing much-needed antibodies to ward off infection and prevent harmful bacterial growth. It's also easier to digest as compared to formula. However, formula feeding is significantly more convenient and flexible for mothers. Helaina is on a mission to combine the benefits of convenience of the two. The company, founded by a food scientist, has developed a process to recreate the functional components of human milk using precision microbial fermentation. Helaina is scaling manufacturing and distribution of its first-of-kind infant formula that provides the immune benefits of natural breast milk in a convenient form with plans to expand to other consumer products. The proprietary formula provides proteins that are 99% identical to breast milk. AlleyWatch caught up with Helaina Founder Laura Katz to learn more about the state of the formula market, the benefits of human proteins in infant nutrition, the company's strategic plans, latest round of funding from investors that include, Siam Capital, Spark Capital, Primary Venture Partners, Cosmic VC, Plum Alley, Tom Williams, Hannah Bronfman, Gabrielle Union, and Barrel Ventures, and much, much more...