WoW Woman in Health - Catalina Castañeda, Co-Founder of kēpos

Catalina Castañeda is the Co-Founder of kēpos, a consumer-health company translating emerging human milk science into differentiated everyday products. She earned a degree in Physics and Economics, specializing in business, from the University of Chicago.

Before founding kēpos, Catalina conducted mechanobiology research in the university’s Gardel Lab, inspiring her to pursue entrepreneurship as a way to bring science beyond the laboratory and where it would have the highest impact: in people’s daily lives.

Since co-founding kēpos in 2023, Catalina has led work across product operations, commercialization, e-commerce, and retail growth. She and her co-founder, Oliver Drazsky, earned a record breaking $100,000 investment in the University of Chicago’s College New Venture Challenge, and were named to Chicago Inno’s 2024 Inno Under 25 list.

Having grown up across Spain, Colombia, and Asia before moving to Chicago, Catalina brings an international and multilingual perspective to entrepreneurship. She is passionate about building scientifically rigorous, accessible consumer brands, commercializing emerging science, and expanding opportunities for women in business and in STEM. 

kēpos is a supplement brand pioneering the use of human milk bioactives in adult nutrition. kēpos' products are formulated with exclusive bioactives originally discovered in human milk, now made scalable through Japanese fermentation technology. They sell direct-to-consumer online, through Erewhon, and are PhD-formulated and backed by the University of Chicago.

Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.

I studied Physics and Economics at the University of Chicago, where I became passionate about the intersection of science and business—and their potential to bring scientific discoveries directly to consumers. I also conducted research in the Gardel Lab, gaining firsthand experience in mechanobiology. My scientific foundation, combined with my interest in entrepreneurship, eventually led me to co-found kēpos with Oliver Drazsky in 2023. What began as a lunch conversation about his decade-long struggle with gut health became a turning point in both of our lives. That day, we decided to build a company focused on translating an emerging class of ingredients, human milk bioactives, into products for adult gut health. I lead our operations, commercialization, and retail growth, turning complex research into consumer products that are approachable, accessible, and impactful.

How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?

I entered the industry through a combination of scientific curiosity, and a personal desire to bring new science to market, but also a very practical consumer problem. Oliver had lived with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for years, and we both saw the limitations of the market–soluitons that wouldn’t address the root cause, or weren’t made for humans. My background in physics and laboratory research helped me evaluate the science, while my economics training helped me think about how to build a viable business around it. Health and wellness products require you to navigate research, formulation, manufacturing, supply chains, consumer trust, fundraising, and retail, all at the same time. The challenge is not simply creating an interesting product; it is making an excellent product that solves a very real need, in the right way. 

How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in? 

Since 2023, our greatest challenge, and opportunity, has been creating an entirely new category. Most consumers have never heard of human milk bioactives or their potential applications in adult health. We must therefore do more than build an exceptional product: we must establish the category, explain its relevance, and earn trust.

What are your biggest achievements to date?

My proudest achievement is helping take kēpos from an idea discussed over lunch to a real company with a developed product, customers, retail presence, and a growing scientific and commercial network. Beyond awards, I am proud that we have continued evolving the company as new science has emerged, allowing us to improve the product, and launch products for a variety of health applications. 

What are the projects you are currently working on?

My main focus is building the next chapter of kēpos. Before the end of the year, we are launching two new products, expanding our retail presence with an upcoming Erewhon launch, and conducting one of the largest clinical studies of human milk bioactives to date. We are also preparing to share more of our story through new channels like podcasts. This next phase is about pairing rigorous research with broader distribution and education, bringing the science behind human milk bioactives to more people for different benefits.

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why? 

Yes. Women are still underrepresented in many of the rooms where technical products are funded, designed, and commercialized. #WomenInTech is not only about representation; it is also about access to capital, technical mentorship, leadership opportunities, and networks that guide women to remain and excel in the industry. I have benefited from professors, founders, peers and mentors who made ambitious paths feel possible, because they’ve paved the way, and I believe it is a duty to create that same sense of possibility for the women following in those footsteps. 

What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?

Consumer health is moving beyond the era when almost anything could be put in a bottle and marketed as wellness. Consumers increasingly expect transparency about ingredients, sourcing, mechanisms, and evidence. The companies that win will combine rigorous science with excellent product design and clear, credible communication.

What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?

Learn to move between disciplines. Consumer health sits at the intersection of science, operations, brand, regulation, manufacturing, and human behavior, so an eagerness and flexibility to learn is key. Build enough technical fluency to ask good questions, then surround yourself with people who know more than you do (always). Speak with customers early, and continue talking to them (I did our customer service for over a year!). Most importantly, choose a problem you care about deeply, and are willing to see through. 

Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?

I admire Katlin Smith for proving that better-for-you products can achieve mainstream scale without compromising ingredient quality. Jessica Gartenstein inspires me because she transformed a personal health challenge into a differentiated product and had the courage to build her company immediately after college. I also admire Emma Grede for creating culturally relevant brands, while demonstrating that professional ambition and a full personal life do not have to be mutually exclusive. Together, they represent the product integrity, resilience, and bold brand-building I hope to bring to kēpos and my life. 

Find out more about kēpos on their website.