SERIES - Meet the WIAS26 Speakers: Farzaneh Rezaei, Founder of Fafabiotic

2 hours ago
5 min read

By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (March 31, 2026)

*This is the first in a series of interviews that will highlight the speakers for the 15^th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans, September 22-24, 2026.

Ask any mom how far she’d go to solve her child’s health problems, and the answer is simple: as far as it takes. Ask a mother with a Ph.D. in microbiology – and that determination is matched by rapid, science-driven problem-solving.

Meet Farzaneh Rezaei, a microbial formulation scientist who spent 15-plus years helping industries trust living microbes to do things no chemical could, who also happens to be one of the speakers on the Ag Innovations & Entrepreneur Panel at this September’s Women in Agribusiness Summit.

As Rezaei explains it, “My children’s skin broke out. I stood in the pharmacy aisle holding the same harsh cleansers I had watched fail people for years. I thought: ‘I know better than this.’ So I made something better. I tested it on my own family first. It worked. And that is why Fafabiotic exists. Not a marketing idea. A scientist’s answer to her own family’s problem.”

And thus began a skincare line designed to work with the skin’s natural biology, not against it. And to her surprise, the same product that works great on her teen’s acne-prone skin became a one-step skincare routine many women in their 40s and above are enjoying with great results.

Rezaei’s Ph.D. in ag and biological engineering from Penn State University, which focused on microbial fuel cells, has served her well both professionally and personally. She was with Novozymes for over six years, first as a senior scientist then as head of the microbial formulation department. She led platform technology efforts to design and evaluate a new fungal production process for the company, before stepping into a leadership role within the BioAg Alliance, where she built and optimized teams from the ground up—transforming them into a high-performing, well-oiled machine in a short time. After this, she was with Pivot Bio for over five years as director of formulation and fermentation.

Then Rezaei started her entrepreneurial journey, founding Fafabiotic in 2023. WIA Today spent some time with Rezaei to get more details (and be sure to catch the Ag Innovation & Entrepreneur Panel at WIAS26 to hear even more!):

What was the catalyst for your transition from working for ag biological giants to entrepreneurship?

The idea of starting my own company began to take shape during my years in California. For the first time, I was surrounded by entrepreneurs. It was fascinating and intimidating, and honestly something I was afraid to even consider for myself because I knew I would fall in love with the idea.
Years later, as I helped companies launch products and witnessed the excitement founders felt when their ideas came to fruition, I realized I wanted to experience that too. I also had many ideas that were beyond my level of authority inside organizations. When the startup where I helped launch five products in five years revealed a very clear glass ceiling, I realized I did not enjoy having a boss. I wanted to be somewhere where the sky was the limit. So I jumped in and started figuring it out on my own.
Your “Bloom” technology products are poised to transform the cosmeceutical industry. Tell us more about your product line and development.

Bloom is the core delivery technology behind Fafabiotic. It allows live probiotics to remain dormant, stable and protected until the user activates them. During my years in agricultural biotechnology, I saw firsthand how critical formulation, packaging and delivery are to the success of any biological product. Even in BioAg, this is often undervalued, yet it is what makes a product fail or succeed. I poured all of that knowledge into making sure Bloom was formulated, packaged and delivered for the best possible outcome.

This is not a serum with probiotic extract. It is a system where the customer activates the biology right before first use, transfers it into a dual chamber bottle, and knows with certainty that the microbes are fresh, alive and functional.

The current product line focuses on simple, microbiome-supportive skincare that replaces complicated routines. Without being a drug or making any claims to treat, cure or prevent disease, each product is designed to calm visible irritation, support the skin barrier and help the skin restore balance rather than overwhelm it with layers of actives.

Development begins with selecting microbial strains for skin relevance, followed by stabilization testing, compatibility with the formula and rigorous performance validation. Every decision is based on whether the biology can survive, activate and function on skin, not whether an ingredient sounds appealing on a label.
You have a rigorous manufacturing method of “select, develop, test, produce”. How does this process mirror those you followed in ag companies and how does this set your company and product apart from others?

The select, develop, test, produce framework comes directly from how microbial products are developed in large biotechnology companies such as Novozymes.

In agriculture, you should never release a microbial product unless you know exactly which strain you are using, how it behaves in formulation and storage, how it performs in real world conditions, and how to scale production without losing viability.

I brought that same discipline into skincare, and to my surprise, I am among the early pioneers applying this level of microbial rigor to this industry.

Select means choosing strains based on function, not trend.
Develop means designing a system that protects their viability, something that did not previously exist in skincare.
Test means validating stability, compatibility and performance, which is rarely done for live microbes in this category.
Produce means manufacturing in a way that preserves life, not just mixes ingredients.

Most skincare is built around chemistry. Much of what is called live skincare is actually postbiotic with marketing language around it. Fafabiotic is built around living biology. That difference in process is what makes Bloom possible and what sets the company apart.

At Women in Agribusiness, we often say “Lift as You Climb,” so we were excited to learn that Fafabiotics embraces a similar mantra: “We Rise by Lifting Others.” Can you share more about this philosophy and the impact it has on your business and community?

This mission is also what carries me through the difficult days, which are most days as a solopreneur. Throughout my career, I led teams that included many talented female scientists and researchers, and I repeatedly saw the bias they faced during reviews and promotions. I did everything I could to advocate for them. After starting my own company, I began to notice the same imbalance in how funding is distributed to female founders.

We often communicate differently, think differently, and are expected to operate in systems not designed for us. Instead of fighting the system, I chose to be part of the solution. From day one, I committed that even if the company made only $100 in revenue, I would dedicate 5 percent to supporting another female founder. I did that last year and hope to do more this year. Once the company reaches over $1 million in revenue, that 5 percent will become meaningful income support for female solopreneurs so they can focus fully on building their companies.
What advice would you give women looking to follow their entrepreneurial dreams and goals?

My advice is simple. Start. Understand your risk tolerance. Know what would truly break you if the company does not take off within your timeline, and make a plan around that. Then begin.

Hear more from Farzaneh Rezaei (and see the growing list of speakers) at the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit.