Enabling safe and affordable gluten detection
Hey there, this is Emily from Red Brick. Welcome to the “Founder Stories” series, where we celebrate and showcase different startup founders who were taking part in Red Brick Accelerator. Hope you enjoy reading them!
This story features Innosensus’s founder, Prakseda Mineikiene. Innosensus started in December 2021 with a goal to make life easier for people who need to avoid gluten. This interview with Prakseda tells us how Innosensus began, what they want to do, and why it’s important.
Prakseda is a determined and passionate founder with a background in marketing and a strong drive to make a positive impact, with over a decade of experience in marketing roles across various industries.
Her journey into entrepreneurship began during her maternity leave, where she seized the opportunity to embark on a new venture aimed at addressing a pressing need in society. Through her leadership and vision, Prakseda is committed to building solutions that improve the lives of others, particularly those with gluten allergies.
Emily: Can you tell us how you got the idea for Innosensus?
Prakseda: Innosensus began when a student asked me for help. His dad had a problem with gluten, so we wanted to find a way to help people like him. We wanted to make it easier to know if their food has gluten. The idea was to help people with gluten problems feel safer when they eat out. Have a tool to check, quickly and cheaply, if their food is safe to eat.
We realized the need for a gluten indicator after hearing about the struggles of those with celiac disease. Studies showed that up to 50% of patients with celiac disease accidentally consumed gluten, highlighting a significant problem.
We are creating the first gluten biosensor detection using electrochemical technology. The main goal is to quickly detect gluten in food to prevent unpleasant symptoms for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. This will allow people to eat out with confidence, whether it’s in restaurants, schools, or hospitals.
Emily: How did you build your team? And in your opinion, what makes a team successful?
Prakseda: Networking is key. Success often comes through people, both inside and outside the team. It’s essential to have professionals who are motivated and share information openly. If people are motivated, they find the money, they find the answers about the technology, who you need to hire, and what you need to do next.
Emily: Talking about motivation, what helps you stay motivated?
Prakseda: For me, it’s other startups and co-founders. I’m trying every week, or at least every other week, to meet other startups who are developing their own products. Hearing their stories and sharing ideas gives me hope. Also, knowing we’re helping people keeps me motivated.
Emily: What challenges has Inosensus faced on the startup journey so far?
Prakseda: One of the biggest challenges has been developing the technology of the product in the biotech field. From securing financing and finding the right team, every step has presented its own set of new challenges. The long research and development process has also tested our patience, but we are focused on delivering a reliable and science-backed gluten sensor. We keep going because we believe in what we’re doing.
Emily: How do accelerator programs like Red Brick help your journey?
Prakseda: Accelerators like Red Brick have been great for us. They connect us with mentors who give us advice. Also, we meet other startups and learn from them. These programs help us grow and make our dreams real. In Red Brick, I was very inspired by master mind group sessions with mentor Laurent Notin, and experimentation session with mentor Orfeuo Lionor.
Emily: What does Prakseda do when not building a company? Have you recently watched any series or movie that you’d like to share?
Prakseda: The last one I saw was very interesting. It’s on Netflix about Pepsi, how they created a marketing campaign. It’s called “Pepsi, where’s my jet?”.
They created a marketing campaign and they said in their ad that if people will collect a lot of the bottles, then they would win a jet. It’s always good to remember what a company communicates in their marketing, what it promises to give. The movie was very thought provoking. I think everyone should watch it.
Innosensus is making a big difference for people who can’t eat gluten. Prakseda’s hard work and dedication show us how startups can help solve important problems. Red Brick Accelerator is supporting the growth of early-stage startups, ready to make an impact with their ideas. Check out the programs from our website and apply now!💚