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Our Team
Meet the team behind Pearlita Foods

Nikita Michelsen
Co-founder and CEO
Nikita Michelsen
Co-founder and CEO
Nikita Michelsen is the founder & CEO and has experience with marketing, user-centered design and data science. She was previously director of marketing at SynBioBeta where she worked closely with companies and startups within the synthetic biology industry to foster strategic partnerships and guide their story-telling to attract users and make the public care about the problems they are solving. Her exceptional talent in networking and effectively conveying the significance of eco-friendly food options will greatly benefit Pearlita Foods as it expands and introduces its sustainable seafood options to the market. Nikita also grew up on the coasts of Scandinavia and has a deep connection with seafood & ocean flavors which inspired the launch of Pearlita to conserve fresh & pure seafood without putting a strain on the ocean ecosystem & biodiversity.

Kassondra Hickey
Head of Science
Kassondra Hickey
Head of Science
Kassondra Hickey, Head of Science at Pearlita Foods, has nearly a decade of experience in cell-based therapies across the academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical sectors. With a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Arizona State University, Kassondra's deep understanding of stem cell isolation and growth makes her the ideal candidate to lead the development of Pearlita's innovative seafood alternatives. Her extensive experience includes developing a microgel drug delivery platform to investigate the impact of chemokine signaling on traumatic brain injury repair and neural stem cell migration, isolating human stem cells for regenerative medicine Phase I and II clinical trials, and aiding in the creation of tissue-engineered urethra and bladder. As a foundational member of the Pearlita Foods team, Kassondra leads the research and development of shellfish cell lines for cultivated meat, leveraging her strengths to secure intellectual property for the company.
Advisory Board
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Andrew D. Ive
Board Director

Mariliis Holm
Board Member

Ryan Bethencourt
Board Director

Stephanie Michelsen
Board Member
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