BBy

BBy Inc. is a health technology company addressing the significant challenges of breast milk storage and administration within hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

The company's core technology is a medical device that condenses human breast milk into a shelf-stable powder. This process is designed to preserve the vital bioactive and immunological components of the milk, which are crucial for infant health. A proprietary algorithm and a unique laser system continuously monitor the weight and temperature during the condensing process to ensure the milk remains within the 'bioactive retention zone'. The resulting powder is packaged in individual aluminum packets, allowing nurses to easily reconstitute the exact amount of milk needed by adding water, which reduces waste and preparation time.

BBy's business model aims to disrupt the 70-year-old practice of freezing, storing, and thawing donor breast milk in hospitals—a process that is both labor-intensive and costly. By providing a shelf-stable product, the company helps hospitals reduce labor costs, which can amount to millions of dollars monthly, and eliminates the need for extensive freezer storage. BBy operates on a service model where its technicians collect frozen donor milk from client hospitals every two weeks, process it at one of their regional facilities, and deliver the packaged, condensed milk back to the NICUs.

The company's founding was inspired by the personal experiences of CEO Dr. Vansh Langer, who, while in Chicago, observed the disparity between mothers who overproduced milk and families struggling to obtain it. This led to the creation of BBy in 2017 with the goal of improving safe and affordable access to natural breast milk. The scientific development was a collaboration with Dr. Blanca Aguilar Uscanga, the company's Head of Science. BBy has gained significant traction, securing $3 million in a seed funding round in May 2023, led by Pioneer Fund with participation from Y Combinator, 7G Bioventures, and Cathexis Ventures. As of mid-2023, the company was serving 17 client hospitals, with eight regional processing facilities near major research hospitals in states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Texas.

Keywords: healthtech, medical device, breast milk, NICU, infant nutrition, food technology, milk condensation, bioactive components, hospital logistics, neonatal care, donor milk, Y Combinator, Vansh Langer, Blanca Aguilar Uscanga, milk powder, infant health, hospital cost savings, medical technology, femtech, pediatric care