Trusting your gut to build better health

Aly Burtch’s mission is to help us discover our own biology through microbiome testing and sequencing.

When Aly Burtch co-founded her start-up uBioDiscovery in 2015, she had no business experience or training.

“I had a biology degree from Toronto Metropolitan University,” she says. “I considered entering an MSc program, but I was also interested in people learning more about their bodies and personalizing their healthcare. So I worked with a colleague to create customer kits that test gut bacteria. Like those home DNA tests, but for gut analysis.”

Aly’s start up offers a SUPERBIOME kit that contains probiotics and a stool sampling protocol. The company analyzes the data sent in by customers and then offers results online, as well as personalized diet suggestions for a specific microbiome profile.

With start-up experience already in place, why did Aly enter the MEIE program?

“I don’t know much about business plans and financial statements,” she says. “At this stage, the company needs good financial forecasting, so we can justify an ask and properly assess any offers we receive. We’re also finding marketing to be a challenge. Those are two areas the MEIE program is really helping with right now.”

With one term of study completed, Aly is already feeling more confident as a entrepreneur. She is also creating future product offerings, like testing the gut biome to treat metabolic disorders.

“I’m still in the lab, which I love. But even more, I love working for myself.”

Aly Burtch and uBioDiscovery have received a Stage 1 DMZ Sandbox Award and support from the Kimel Family Campus-Linked Accelerator Fund.

Learn more about Aly's entrepreneurial accomplishments via TMU Today