“Infant formula is a baby's first food. And it's the first decision you make as a new parent… We had to do better for babies and for parents because this is the most important food.” —Mia Funt
Breast milk is often referred to as the "magical superfood" for infants due to its numerous health benefits and essential nutrients. While breast milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition, infant formula serves as a viable alternative when breastfeeding is not possible or preferred. That’s why, infant formula should be developed to closely mimic the composition of breast milk, providing babies with the necessary nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
Co-Founded by Mia Funt, ByHeart’s infant formula goes beyond just filling your baby's tummy— it's a specially formulated blend that mirrors the essential nutrients found in breast milk. With an emphasis on quality and safety, each ingredient is carefully selected to meet the nutritional needs of growing infants, while providing the peace of mind that comes with a safe and trusted product.
Join Justine and Mia as they chat about the motivation behind ByHeart’s baby formula and their careful selection of ingredients. They also touch upon the significance of breastmilk as the ultimate first food for infants and explore the uphill battle of innovating in the world of infant formula, how advancements in science have revolutionized the nutritional aspect of infant formulas, the benefits of having multiple clinical trials, tips in working with your family, and why direct-to-consumer marketing holds great importance.
Meet Mia:
Mia Funt, as the co-founder and president of ByHeart, heads a company dedicated to developing an infant formula that closely emulates the benefits of breastmilk. Recognizing the shortcomings within the infant formula industry, siblings Ron Belldegrun and Mia Funt embarked on a transformative five-year journey to create an uncompromised and superior first food for babies. They laid the foundation for robust quality systems and stringent supplier approval requirements while traversing the globe in search of like-minded ingredients and farm partners. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, they perfected their small batch approach, ensuring every ingredient's quality and benefits were retained. Through close collaboration with parents and experts, as well as extensive clinical trials, they successfully crafted a clean-label, nutritious, and top-tier infant formula.
Connect with NextGen Purpose:
Episode Highlights:
03:57 Doing Better For Babies and Parents
06:11 The Challenges in the Infant Formula Category
11:59 Changing the Nutritional Landscape of Infant Formula
14:17 Choosing the Right Ingredients
19:22 Manufacturing vs Outsourcing
21:12 The Importance of Clinical Trials