Vegans comprise a large niche market for nutritional supplements. These consumers generally take supplements, but no one product has conquered the market. A new product can now be produced that
Features superior nutrition compared to existing products;
Is formulated based on clinical research and market surveys of consumer wants;
Uses a high tech capsule delivery system that gives composition and aesthetic advantages;
And which can be publicized by a great business team.
A request is made for $49,500 investment to start the sales process.
Most of the nearly 10 million US vegans recognize a need for nutrient supplementation. Moreover, the vegan supplement market was predicted to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.75 percent from 2021 to 2026. Yet, based on social media monitoring, the formulator’s own on line market surveys (including a recent one), and a Modor Intelligence report, no current supplement dominates the market. A new product is proposed that features superior nutrition, a high tech capsule delivery system, and a great business team. The nutritional content is based on published research data (including some from the formulator). The supplement nutrient composition differs from other vegan supplements in the following ways:
The face of the product will be the highly visible vegan dietitian and author Sharon Palmer (who will hold some company equity). Also, a young social media marketer, who is a vegan, will moonlight to lead influencer social media engagement. In addition, the company will include a marketer with a track record of building large social media followings. Also, business supervision will be provided by Neil Collins, MBA Harvard. Neil has worked for big companies like Borden, but also runs Innovate New Albany, an entrepreneurial startup business center.
Interest from the target customer base has been verified by great results in online market surveys and professional in person interviews. Duplication of the product by other companies will be hindered by a provisional patent, an exclusive arrangement with a key ingredient supplier, and an exclusivity policy of the delivery system producer. In summary, a strong team will sell a protected product geared to a substantial and growing market with interest in this product.
Intellectual property status
A provisional patent is about to be submitted. Also, an exclusivity aggreement for vegan supplements will happen with a key ingredient supplier. In addition, exclusivity for the formulation will occur with the producer of the high tech capsule needed for this product.
Biographical Sketch, Dr. Robert DiSilvestro
Dr. DiSilvestro holds a PhD in biochemistry from Texas A&M University, was a nutrition professor for 34 years, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University. His research has spanned diverse topics from basic physiology and biochemistry to human intervention studies (which include “non-wet lab” measures in people). This professor has authored/co-authored close to 110 peer reviewed research journal articles, written a number of reviews, composed book chapters, and written a whole book on the state of research for mineral supplements. Dr. DiSilvestro has been on editorial boards for a number of research journals and has been a reviewer for various grant programs (including one for nutrition research with business potential). He has also spoken at a number of nutrition industry trade shows and written for nutrition industry trade journals. He also has done consulting for food and supplement industries (ie. Pepsico, Dupont, and Bausch & Lomb). He also currently runs two startup companies.
Research Accomplishments, Dr. Robert DiSilvestro
My early research emphasized metalloprotein biochemistry and physiology. Some of that work was on copper and zinc transport, which helped set the stage for later explosions in chaperone research. I also developed some metalloenzyme methodology, and was the first to show that moderate mineral deficiencies affect certain metalloenzyme activities. Further work clarified conflicting data on the molecular weight of superoxide dismutase3. Early work also demonstrated that a green tea flavonoid can affect copper enzyme metabolism. At the time, flavonoid bioactivity research was almost nonexistent (a situation that has changed). My mineral work then shifted to applied human nutrition such as finding how to assess marginal deficiencies. The work also compared bioactivities for different versions of minerals. In addition, some consequences of marginal mineral deficiencies were characterized including effects on ADHD children (one article was a cover story for a journal issue).
Eventually, this researcher expanded into nonmineral nutrients and nutraceuticals. Some work examined how well one supplement version fared versus others. In another area, one paper demonstrated that the herb kava was not hepatotoxic. This spawned studies by others that led a European regulatory body reversing a position on kava hepatotoxicity. In other work, a study was done on protein and exercise-induced muscle gain. The resulting paper was the most online accessed research article for the journal for a long time. In a related direction, a series of studies were done on soy products, including one that debunked the idea that they lower testosterone readings in men. Other research showed that by simply eating one apple a day, profound effects are produced for a measure related to heart disease risk. This received wide media coverage.
In various projects, side measures were taken and the data stored. This remains a way to jump start future research. In one case, some natural/semi-natural ingredients were noted to lower triglyceride readings. Three of them are hypothesized to act additively or synergistically. This is leading to an April proposal for an NIH Small Business Innovation Research Grant.
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