Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Koepp.
Hi Eric, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My family was struggling with a hereditary dairy allergy that was causing anaphylaxis in one of our children with just the slightest exposure. A trip to the emergency room was guaranteed. In 2015 I read an article that “a probiotic formula reverses cow’s milk allergies by changing gut bacteria of infants.” I was blown away by the science in the article so I decided I would start ordering some probiotics myself.
One of the probiotics that I ordered online miraculously and unexpectedly cleared my chronic skin condition. I was so fascinated that I went down a deep rabbit hole trying to understand the mechanisms behind how it happened. Experiencing something like that firsthand gives you the confidence to “go all in.”
My neighbor approached me about buying a supplement business on the side. We were both in different businesses and careers at the time, so we were just investigating the possibilities when I had the experience with a probiotic clearing up my skin. We really started researching the scientific evidence and it was all about bacteria and the latest medical breakthroughs. The science became a little complicated, so we sought out and found experts in the industry to guide us. We wanted to share this discovery with the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest challenge early on was finding a capable manufacturer who was willing and able to produce a novel, evidence-based probiotic blend. We thought we would start with the largest and most reputable probiotic manufacturers in the United States, even if we have to pay a little more. However, we discovered that the probiotic industry was completely unregulated and somewhat deceptive. Companies would try and sell us their completely unproven, generic, and mass-produced white-label blends because they were cheaper and easier to produce. Honestly, it made a lot of sense where they were coming from, profit-wise.
However, we were not looking to make a quick buck at the time. Both of us had been successful in our careers, so we were more interested in making a difference in people’s lives while making money at the same time. We knew this would require capital, time, and effort.
In one of these white blends we were considering, we discovered that the manufacturer was deceiving the end consumer by claiming their supplement label was filled with probiotic species that weren’t even in the bottle! Upon further research, we discovered this was commonplace. In one study of 121 different brands, 66% of the probiotic brands tested didn’t have the probiotic strains that were on the label!
Our scientific advisor at the time, a scientist named Anthony Almada, ingrained in us this idea of evidence-based ingredients. Ingredients that were supported by rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials were the way to move forward.
After we determined our evidence-based probiotic blend, the custom probiotic manufacturers promised us quick production times, but our first batch was delayed almost six months. My business partner, who meticulously runs our operations, tallied a list of 87 production errors – many that went against current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations!
The major lesson was we needed to find an expert manufacturer that was diligent about living up to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations every step along the way. The major manufacturers did not have the time or expertise to deal with a new probiotic blend. We became experts in the industry very fast.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
A breakthrough from over a decade of university research, Skinesa® is a dietary supplement created especially for clear, healthy skin. We believe that problematic skin starts within the gut. Therefore, a healthy gut results in healthy skin. A team of experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems innovated the formula contained in Skinesa®. It’s the only probiotic supplement for skin containing two exclusive compositions that have both been clinically studied for skin health in extreme double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. The probiotic blends contained in Skinesa® were studied, designed, and clinically tested by Scientists (PhDs) and Medical Doctors (MDs). Skinesa® is now the #1 recommended probiotic blend for skin by dermatologists!
The cofounder Eric Koepp. is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience from four successful start-ups and 2 business exits. He is currently President of Sales for Skinesa, Inc, an evidence-based dietary supplement that is focused on helping people with chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Wisconsin, known as America’s dairyland, allergic to dairy. I dropped out of college in my final year and moved to Los Angeles to start my first business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skinesa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinesaprobiotics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinesa/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaSTc8pzEMiadaj8RwrSiQ
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/skinesaprobiotics/skinesa/
