About Us

The microbiome is a powerful element in our health and well-being. Although it is a relatively young field, each year more evidence emerges of its role in various health processes and disease aetiology. While its exact mechanism remains a Gordian knot, one thing that is clear is its role as a central mediator of health in our bodies.


Driven by this understanding, we founded Biomine with the central thesis that effectively hacking the microbiome unlocks a world of potential for new therapeutic approaches to some of the world's most complex diseases.


Now, just over a year into this journey, we are actively testing this theory. Supported by our first investors and biotech partners, we have built an MVP of our first solution, which we are now working to clinically validate and license to reach the market before the year's end. To maintain our edge, we are keeping everything under wraps until our launch—so keep your eyes peeled for when we reveal our solution!

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to learn more.

Meet the team

Vaughn Barendsen
Co-founder & CEO

Vaughn, the Co-founder and CEO, brings a multidisciplinary background to the company, with a degree in Genetics, a master's in Psychology, and prior entrepreneurial success in building and exiting a vertical farming venture. His vision is to leverage personalized medicine and microbiome-focused technologies to disrupt the current clinical ecosystem, facilitating breakthroughs and improving patient outcomes through tailored solutions. Vaughn's collaborative leadership style is marked by his ability to unite diverse perspectives, challenge the team to address tough questions, and collectively build robust strategies aligned with the company's goals. His unique blend of scientific expertise, business acumen, and passion for driving positive change in healthcare positions him as an ideal leader for this pioneering biotech startup.

Diego Castillo (Ph.D)
Co-founder & CTO

Diego, the Co-founder and CTO, brings a decade of invaluable experience in researching various microbiomes, bioinformatics, and genetics to the company. Armed with a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria and a tenure as a post-doctoral researcher, he possesses a deep understanding of the underlying biology that underpins the company's technology. Diego's familiarity with the latest research developments, coupled with his ability to identify and leverage competitive edges, has provided indispensable guidance in shaping the company's strategic decision-making and positioning it to break through barriers. Driven by the belief that the intersection of technology and biology will unlock humanity's next frontier, Diego is committed to harnessing the power of AI to unravel the complexities of the microbiome and drive innovation in personalized medicine.

Byron Verzmoter
Engineer

Byron, the first Engineer at the company, plays a pivotal role in the development of core products and technological systems. With a strong focus on delivering robust and thoroughly tested AI models for research and discovery, Byron is responsible for continuously improving and keeping the company's offerings at the cutting edge of what's possible. Byron's four years of experience in developing ML models for healthcare, with a keen eye for detail and a meticulous approach, have enabled him to create accessible tooling for design and development, as well as rigorous testing strategies that provide deep insights into the company's suite of models. His commitment to delivering the absolute best product possible makes him an invaluable asset to the team.