Announcing the 2024 NutraIngredients-USA SANS Start-Up Stars
As this year's winners, Path Forward Formulator, RedLeaf Biologics and RevolutionaryFitness USA will be joining SANS to present their companies and network with the industry.
Path Forward Formulator
Path Forward Formulator is on a mission to create a system in which formulators can easily find and use the ingredients they need. To achieve this, the company created a partnering model with ingredient suppliers to integrate their data into Path Forward Formulator’s system.
“Attendees will learn how Path Forward Formulator streamlines the product development process—enhancing speed, efficiency, accuracy and flexibility, not just in creating formulas and cost estimates but also in generating facts boxes and product-level specification sheets,” explained Shane Durkee, founder and CEO of Path Forward Formulator.
“This is just the beginning. As this journey moves forward, my vision continues to grow. Not only do we have a 36-month roadmap of features and enhancements ahead, but we’ve also already begun partnering to bring recommended contract manufacturers to our platform, new dosage forms such as softgels and new functionality, such as ERP integration. I’m so proud to see my vision come to life—building a software platform from the ground up specifically for the dietary supplement industry and taking it from concept to live in just seven months."
RedLeaf Biologics
RedLeaf Biologics uses plant breeding techniques to grow a non-GMO red sorghum variety that produces high levels of compounds used to create extracts that are used in health, wellness, cosmetics and nutrition products.
“I'm excited to talk about the history of RedLeaf and our amazing sorghum crop that's literally a one-in-a-million (two million actually) discovery because people love learning about plants and ingredients that are truly new—they just don't come along very often!" said Jordan Raphel, CEO, RedLeaf Biologics.
"I'll also share more about ReDaxin and its incredible profile, formulation versatility and U.S. sustainable agriculture story, but I'm a scientist first and foremost, and at SANS I think attendees will care most about the science, so I'll be talking about our fresh human clinical data demonstrating ReDaxin's awesome support of muscle recovery and muscle soreness after exercise in our gold standard clinical run at the University of Kentucky.
“RedLeaf has taken on so much, from the discovery of a brand new, non-GMO crop to doing all of the agricultural work to optimize it for growing right here in the U.S., to figuring out how to harvest, process and extract it to make our ReDaxin extract, to conducting first in vitro and then human clinical studies to understand ReDaxin's efficacy.
"Any one of those tasks would be a lot for one company of any size, and we've done them all with just a small core team, so I'm extremely proud of all the work we've put in over the years to get where we are now. We get to present ReDaxin and its incredible benefits to the world for the first time, but so much time, effort, R&D, failures and triumphs have gone into this over the years. I'm just incredibly happy for the team and proud of all the steps we've taken to get here.”
RevolutionaryFitness USA
RevolutionaryFitness USA is dedicated to reshaping the sports nutrition supplement industry with a focus on community impact and inclusivity. Its mission is to provide high-quality, scientifically backed products that elevate both physical and cognitive performance. The company operates under several sub-brands, including New History, which is devoted to providing people of color and underprivileged communities with access to premium nutritional resources.
“Attendees can expect a conversation that highlights the significant lack of minority representation in the fitness and wellness industry,” said Tyrone Faverey, CEO of RevolutionaryFitness USA. “I’ll be addressing how RevolutionaryFitness USA, through New History, is committed to giving back to underserved Black and Brown communities by creating products specifically designed for them—products that focus on both the mind and body. These communities have an appetite for holistic health solutions, but they often don’t see themselves reflected in the brands available today.”
“I’ll share how we’re working to change that by crafting supplements that support mental clarity, physical strength and overall wellness, while also ensuring accessibility and representation in the industry. Our goal is not only to develop impactful products but also to create lasting change by empowering these communities to take ownership of their health and well-being.”
Faverey added that the journey has been about more than just fitness products—it’s about empowerment, representation and creating something that speaks to a much larger cause.
“I’m proud of the authenticity we’ve maintained while scaling, and the partnerships we’ve developed which demonstrate that people are resonating with the message we’re putting out,” he said.
SANS
The Sports & Active Nutrition Summit, held Feb. 19 to 21, 2025, runs in association with the Sports Nutrition Committee of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), will bridge the gaps between cutting-edge science, business strategy and key regulatory developments. Over three days, the Summit will consist of a number of interactive presentations and discussions that will share new insights and innovation, boost business growth and highlight product opportunities. Key themes include a look at the state of the industry, women’s health, AI for sports nutrition, nootropics, social media, the challenging regulatory climate and so much more.
