Member Since January 2020
Skills
About
I’m Sara Bonham, a biological engineer and food scientist with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of business/technology and innovation. As the co-founder of Perennial, I work to develop sustainable food technology from plant-based inputs to improve health outcomes for our aging population. What excites me most about my job is leveraging all the data within plants/ food inputs (proteins, novel molecules), to develop tailor-made food solutions for extending healthy human life-span as we age. Over the past four years, I have formulated, developed and scaled our health science platform, which led to the production of our first product; an all-in-one nutrition drink for improving senior health & well-being (supports brain, gut, bone, muscle, and immune health). This product is offered nationwide and was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company and other major influential publications within a few months of launching. Only 1% of global innovation addresses our aging population, and I am proud to be reinventing this 3+ Billion Dollar global category with technology that will make a difference for healthy aging. In May 2020, we are expanding our offerings and have partnered with CVS to offer enhanced nutrition solutions for gut & brain health. Prior to Perennial, I was at IndieBio, a leading biotechnology innovation hub owned by SOS Ventures in the heart of Silicon Valley (portfolio is worth $2 Billion; $625 million under management). There, I leveraged my background in manipulating plant proteins and process engineering to make more sustainable solutions for the dairy industry (i.e. developed milk from plants), which were featured in Business Insider. I have also worked in the field of sustainable biomaterials and have created scaleable bio-materials for the agricultural industry (i.e. compostable mulch film from plant proteins/films) that are available now across Asia, Europe, and the UAE. ARTICLES I HAVE WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED: 8 Strategies for Becoming a More Persuasive Leader https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/8-strategies-for-becoming-a-more-persuasive-leader.html
Sara Bonham
Published content
expert panel
Cash flow -- the amount of money that comes in and goes out of a business -- is often a concern for many new companies. Generating a healthy cash flow requires careful planning and a commitment to a strong operational strategy. However, a lack of experience in cash flow management as a new entrepreneur can put you at a disadvantage. That’s why we asked 10 members of Young Entrepreneur Council about common cash-flow mistakes new business owners tend to make when they’re starting out. Here’s what they had to share from their experiences.
expert panel
When you set up your startup and start hiring your first few people to staff, not all of them will be tech workers. Non-tech professions such as sales, marketing, etc. are also crucial to the success of a product. Some companies don't offer these hires any equity, but this may be a huge mistake. You can lose talented professionals if you don't sweeten the deal enough. Yet how much equity is too much for these non-tech hires? What are the elements to look at when considering how much equity they should get? To help, 11 members of Young Entrepreneur Council weigh in on what any leader should keep in mind when figuring out how much equity non-technical hires should receive in their startup.
Company details
Willow Cup (dba Perennial)
Company bio
Perennial is a health science company that leverages the power and potential of plant-based inputs with data, to develop novel supplements and food products for improving health outcomes for seniors. At Perennial, we have tapped into both science and nature to develop solutions smartly crafted for longevity of health. We have spent years designing a drink, that can be sold both in medical and pharmacy/retail channels that provides cleaner nutrition to fuel your gut, brain and body.