Portrait No. 001
Ishita Shah
Co-founder and CEO
Matrubials Inc.
Raised — Currently in a raise
Matrubials is developing milk inspired therapies for infectious diseases, starting with women’s health. The global healthcare threat of antimicrobial resistance makes for an acute and generational outcome in women. It is alarming to find out that there are only two approved drugs for women suffering from the most prevalent gynecological infection, bacterial vaginosis, and those drugs fail to fully resolve the symptoms, resulting in secondary infections and reproductive issues. The umbrella of associations is an ordeal for ~1bn women globally. I can’t bear to see that our standard of care for women’s health is lagging so far behind given the medical and technology advancements currently. My training, but more importantly the awareness I have relevant to the problem that guide me to show up every day moving forward towards building the therapies that women really need makes me ideal for this core mission.
In her words
“I founded Matrubials to build therapies that people, especially women, really need. The key is to SHOW UP AND DO THE JOB.”
Chapter I
The toughest challenges you've faced as a founder.
I'm all of the above- woman, mother, minority, immigrant. The biggest bottleneck in advancing the business is funding. And it more so because of the fact that antibiotic discovery is plagued with unattractive ROIs, forcing a lot of larger pharmaceutical companies to disinvest in Infectious Diseases. I have focused on "What can I move forward with the resources I have?" and continue to keep meeting crucial milestones that have not only allowed us to remain alive, but also thrive given the circumstances. We ended up becoming a Y Combinator company and subsequently were awarded NIH/SBIR grant and a Gates foundation grant. We tap into every pitch competition opportunity towards raising awareness while trying to fundraise. I wouldn't trade this journey for anything else. Remaining focused on the core mission and keeping in mind the real impact it can bring about for women not just in the developed countries, but also LMICs where the situation is much worse, keeps us moving every minute of the day. It is a covenant.
Chapter II
Your vision.
Equality for women's health- in research and discovery, in clinical development, in approvals by the regulatory agencies, in physician prescriptions and importantly, socially.
Chapter III
The impact you want to leave behind — for your industry, your community, and the women who come next.
That women are changemakers, that they can be excellent leaders and build impactful and profitable companies, and that they can bring about societal benefits far beyond anticipated. Most importantly, I want to leave behind a message for not just women, but everyone that collaborative efforts are the key to successful execution and achievements that surpass all goals.