Persephone Biosciences

Persephone Biosciences, previously named Persephone Biome, operates out of San Diego, CA, and employs a team of six. As a participant in the Y-Combinator W18 batch, the company focuses on the healthcare industry, specifically within the therapeutics sub-sector. Persephone Biosciences is dedicated to developing live biotherapeutic products aimed at modulating the metabolism of gut microbes to prevent and cure diseases. The company employs an engineering approach, utilizing systems and synthetic biology to deepen the understanding of the microbiome. Significant initiatives include the AMBROSIA study, which investigates the impact of diet and lifestyle on the gut microbiome and serves as a foundational step in utilizing the microbiome and food as medicine. Additionally, the My Baby Biome™ clinical study explores the microbiome’s relationship from birth. Persephone Biosciences also leads ARGONAUT, the largest U.S. study mapping gut and immune health in cancer patients, aiming to identify biomarkers for developing cancer therapeutics. Furthermore, their clinical research arm, Poop for the Cure®, focuses on large-scale, data-driven discovery with an emphasis on racial and ethnic diversity.