Who we are
At Biomine Health, we started with a simple but powerful idea: there's extraordinary potential hidden in the smallest organisms around—and inside—us. These tiny microbes might seem insignificant, but they're actually the unsung heroes of human health, influencing everything from digestion to mental health.
We founded Biomine as two passionate scientists eager to harness the microbiome’s untapped potential. Today, we're proud to be South Africa's first microbiome testing and treatments company. Our growing team is a vibrant mix of some of the brightest scientists and engineers around, driven by curiosity and dedicated to making groundbreaking science accessible.
Our vision? Simple yet ambitious: a world where we proactively engineer human health, rather than reactively treat disease. We're starting by empowering people to deeply understand their own microbiomes, beginning with gut health. But this is just the start—our goal is to unlock every aspect of the microbiome, revolutionising healthcare one discovery at a time.
Small microbes, big impact—that’s what Biomine is all about.
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Meet the Team
Behind Biomine Health is a passionate team combining science, technology, and heart to transform human health from the inside out.

Vaughn Barendsen
Co-founder and CEO
Vaughn holds a degree in Human Genetics and an MSc in Psychology. He’s driven by a deep fascination with human enhancement and longevity.

Byron Verzmoter
AI Engineer
Byron is a tech whiz with a focus on machine learning and healthtech. He’s passionate about using technology to ease the burden of disease and improve lives.

Dr. Diego Castillo
Co-founder and CTO
Diego has spent nearly a decade studying how microorganisms impact planetary and human health. He holds a PhD in Genetics specialising in microbiomics.

Dr. Vivian Chan
Board Advisor
Vivian holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and is passionate about turning breakthrough Healthtech innovations into impactful companies.

Dr. Avril Moodley
Clinical Advisor
Medical doctor and OB-GYN dedicated to improving women’s health through lifestyle-focused care, prioritising long-term wellbeing over medication alone.
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July Launch Special:
R1000 Off Your First Test
We’re launching with a special price to thank our early customers. Be one of the first to try South Africa’s most advanced gut health test.