Founding Team

Maria Cho

15+ years in pharma and commercial
development Masters in Biomedical chemistry


Maria has lived with acne all of her life, and has struggled to find a good solution to treat her acne since her teenage years. In her pursuit of clear skin, she tried ’em all: benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, and even four rounds of Accutane. Despite her best efforts, she was left with consistent relapses and gut issues from the harsh side effects that last to this day.

Having worked in the pharma space for 15 years, she knew what it took to make a high quality product. She was looking for a better way to get effective long-term results for her acne. without compromising her health.

Yug Varma

10+ years microbiome research
PhD in Microbiology, Johns Hopkins University


Yug was conducting microbiome research at UCSF. He was also working on biotechnology that can be used to cure dangerous bacterial diseases, and can help solve the antibiotic crisis.

While developing this technology, he discovered an application to tackle acne, which is a huge problem with no good solution. Over-the-counter treatments are temporary cures, and harsh ingredients cause lasting skin damage. Prescription oral retinoids are the nuclear option – they’re risky and carry serious medical risks.

Our mission is to change the way we treat chronic skin diseases, starting with acne.