A practical lunchtime seminar for early-stage founders
When: May 12, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm, PST
Format: 1-hour virtual seminar
Audience: Early-stage natural products companies and prospective founders
Overview:
Entering the natural products industry requires more than a strong product idea. Regulatory strategy—labeling, claims, compliance, and positioning—can shape whether a company gains traction or encounters avoidable barriers.
This 1-hour seminar is designed for founders at the earliest stages of building a natural products company. The focus is practical: how to think about regulation early, how to avoid common missteps, and how to make informed decisions without overengineering compliance.
What You’ll Learn
- How regulatory considerations influence product development from the outset
- Common pitfalls small companies encounter (and how to avoid them)
- How to approach claims, labeling, and compliance pragmatically
- What it actually looks like to navigate regulation as a founder—not just in theory
Featured Speaker
Dr. Andrea McBeth: Founder, Thaena
Following the talk, Dr. McBeth will join a live conversation with the founders of Dhara Therapeutics, an emerging company currently navigating early regulatory decisions.
This segment will explore:
- Real-time challenges faced by new founders
- Tradeoffs between speed, compliance, and product claims
- How experienced founders think through uncertainty
- Interactive Q&A
The session will conclude with open discussion. Attendees are encouraged to bring specific questions about their own products, ideas, or regulatory concerns.
Who Should Attend
- Founders of early-stage natural products companies
- Clinicians or entrepreneurs considering launching a product
- Teams trying to understand regulatory requirements before investing heavily
Format at a Glance:
20 minutes: Founder perspective (Dr. McBeth, Thaena)
20 minutes: Live founder conversation (Dhara Therapeutics)
20 minutes: Community Q&A
Why This Session:
Most regulatory guidance is either overly technical or too generic to be actionable. This session focuses on how founders actually navigate the space—what decisions matter early, and which concerns can be deferred.
Registration:
The event is free but you must register to attend.