Ep 38 - Ali Winger - Founder & CEO at Key2Biotics

In this episode of the Founders & Funding Podcast, Philip speaks with Ali Winger, Founder and CEO of Key2Biotics. Key2Biotics helps supplement and food and beverage brands develop probiotic and gut health products, taking them from concept through to shelf, and operates a purpose-built innovation centre in Cork with three labs and a team of scientists.

Ali shares how she left senior leadership in some of the largest global probiotic and supplement companies at the start of 2025 to build the business, and why she structured the funding around a mix of Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland support, debt, and revenue from day one.

She talks about building three labs from a concrete floor and no ceiling, why getting to a minimal viable lab quickly mattered more than building slowly and perfectly, and what she's learning about storytelling as Key2Biotics moves into its first seed round. They also discuss why perfectionism is a liability in early-stage building, and how the Irish ecosystem has supported the company from week one.