In an interview with Sal Daher, Propel Bio Partners’ managing general partner Leen Kawas addresses the importance of establishing probiotics for gut microbiomes of babies. Other companies focus on adults, but with Propel Bio Partners, Kawas focuses on studying and addressing unique gut microbiome needs of infants and toddlers.
Efforts by Propel Bio Partners
Leen Kawas discusses Propel Bio Partners and how they are a new fund. Kawas previously served as CEO of a company but decided to transition into the investment world to assist entrepreneurs.
Propel Bio Partners invests in other companies, one of which is Persephone Biosciences, which studies gut microbiome health. Kawas describes the company as being scientifically oriented and focused on generating value for investors and consumers alike.
Why focus on the baby microbiome?
One of the things Leen Kawas cites as being a factor in why Propel Bio Partners wanted to invest in Persephone Biosciences is their emphasis on creating a probiotic market for infants. As a working mother herself, Kawas sees the value for parents who are raising the demand for infant and toddler probiotics. Kawas understands the stress put on mothers to raise healthy children with strong autoimmune systems.
A Force of Innovation
Leena Kawas cites the fact that other makers of probiotics have glossed over the demand for infant probiotics. Persephone is the one company she has seen doing this kind of research, hence her interest in investing in their work. Given that Persephone’s CEO is also a mother, there is a deeply personal connection to the work going on at Persephone.
Leena Kawas is a mother who champions entrepreneurs by investing in them. Her story is one of an immigrant, a mother, and an investor dedicated to helping others achieve success.