Kevin Appelbaum

Building companies where science meets the consumer — from formation to IPO.

Where wellness demands clinical rigor and medicine needs a brand.

The most valuable health companies of the next decade will sit between wellness and medicine. They'll be too scientific for lifestyle brands to build, too consumer-facing for healthcare incumbents to reach, and too novel for existing regulatory frameworks to neatly classify.

This convergence zone is where I've spent my career. Each company I've built has occupied a different point on the spectrum: a digital food and nutrition platform at the consumer end (Digital Chef / Culinary Institute of America), the first FDA-regulated laser device brought OTC for home use in the middle (Tria Laser, $0→$95M ARR, acquired/IPO), and the first FDA-authorized digital therapeutic for type 2 diabetes at the clinical end (Better Therapeutics, NASDAQ:BTTX). Each required assembling world-class teams of scientists, engineers, designers, and clinicians, then navigating novel regulatory pathways to reach consumers at scale.

Now I'm building Field Theory, applying everything I've learned to functional foods for healthy aging. We proved food is medicine. Now I want to make it easy to take.

Field Theory
Founder & CEO · 2025–Present
The same nutrition science that treated chronic disease at Better Therapeutics, applied to preventing it. Complete, science-backed functional foods engineered for adults 40+ who want to age on their own terms.
Preventive Nutrition Functional Foods Healthy Aging DTC / Amazon
Better Therapeutics
Co-Founder & CEO · 2015–2022
Combined nutrition science with digital behavior change to create a new class of treatment for cardiometabolic disease. Secured first in-class FDA authorization for a novel, non-drug treatment of type 2 diabetes.
IPO (NASDAQ:BTTX) FDA De Novo Digital Therapeutics Chronic Disease
Tria Laser
President & CEO · 2008–2014
Built the first company to bring FDA-regulated laser technologies over the counter for consumer home use. Scaled from zero to $95M ARR across DTC and retail channels.
Acquired 2016 / IPO (LSE:TBTG) FDA 510(k) Class II Medical Device DTC / Retail
Digital Chef
President & CEO · 1996–2000
Created a first-generation e-commerce platform as a joint venture with the Culinary Institute of America. Food literacy meets technology at the dawn of consumer internet.
VC-Backed Food + Tech Consumer Health

0→1 Company Building

Formation through product-market fit in complex, regulated environments. Team assembly across science, technology, product, regulatory, and commercial disciplines.

Regulatory Strategy

FDA pathways (De Novo, 510(k), OTC, SaMD), and structure/function claims for conventional foods. Turning regulatory constraints into competitive moats.

Consumer & DTC Scaling

Brand building, e-commerce, omnichannel distribution. P&G and PepsiCo training applied to venture-scale consumer health products with global reach.

Capital Markets & IPO Readiness

Prepared two companies for IPO as CEO. Executed one (NASDAQ:BTTX). Venture fundraising, debt financing, S-1 preparation, public-market operations.

Clinical Evidence & Science Translation

Designing evidence strategies that satisfy regulators and persuade consumers. Conducted numerous cohort and randomized controlled trials, and real-world evidence studies. Peer-reviewed and published clinical outcomes.

Values-Based Leadership

Building cultures where scientists, engineers, clinicians, and commercial teams do their best work together. Active duty as a U.S. Army infantry officer with the 75th Ranger Regiment, where leading diverse, high-performing teams under pressure was the job.


Sephora · SVP Growth, Innovation & Digital
Led corporate development, e-commerce/DTC, and technology for a high-growth global specialty retailer.
Hawk Hill Advisors · Managing Partner
Innovation consultancy serving clients in consumer health, packaged food, and primary care.
Theravent · Independent Board Director
PepsiCo · Marketing Director
Procter & Gamble · Brand Manager
U.S. Army · Captain, Infantry · 10 years active and reserve duty, including the 75th Ranger Regiment

University of Pennsylvania · BSE, Chemical Engineering · Distinguished Military Graduate · Division 1 Athlete (Rowing)