Reinventing Infant Nutrition Through Science and Empathy
How one founder is using biotechnology to bring infant formula closer to human milk—and transform a century-old industry.
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When I meet founders who are driven as much by heart as by science, I’m reminded why I love this work. Every once in a while, someone comes along who isn’t just building a company but reshaping an entire system for the better. That’s exactly what I discovered in my conversation with Del Afonso, the founder of Harmony Baby Nutrition. His journey—from witnessing the heartbreak of children facing severe dietary constraints to navigating his own daughter’s feeding challenges—has led him to reimagine infant formula from the ground up. His story is a powerful reminder that innovation fueled by compassion can change lives, starting with our most vulnerable little ones.
What follows is an interview I conducted with Del.
What inspired you to start your company?
Harmony is my second venture in infant nutrition, and my motivation has always been deeply personal, rooted in the real struggles babies and families face.
Years ago, during my time as a researcher, I witnessed something that left a lasting impression. A young girl with PKU was overjoyed to learn she could finally eat bananas. For children with this condition, even common protein sources like meat, eggs, milk, cereals, and some fruits can cause severe brain damage. Seeing her celebrate something as simple as a banana, a fruit I eat regularly, was both humbling and heartbreaking. I also remember the taste and smell of the medical formulas these children had to consume. It was shocking how unpleasant they were, especially considering how vital they are to survival. That moment stayed with me.
Years later, when my daughter Ana was diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy, I experienced firsthand how limited and disgusting the existing formula options were. I knew we could do better. I knew science and innovation could help us create something that not only meets nutritional needs but also brings comfort and joy to children like Ana.
That’s why I built Harmony to change the game in infant nutrition and help kids thrive.
What problem are you solving, and who benefits most from your solution?
Nearly 90% of babies in the U.S. rely on formula by six months of age. Yet, today’s formulas are still little more than cow’s milk powder in a can. Cow’s milk is fundamentally different from human milk, and this gap contributes to measurable disparities in early childhood health. Around one in five babies fed with standard formula experiences some form of allergic reaction, largely triggered by cow’s milk proteins that are absent in human milk.
The problem is even more pronounced for allergic infants. Existing “hypoallergenic” formulas rely on harsh processing and added sugars to mask their bitter taste and smell, leaving parents feeling like they’re feeding medicine rather than nourishment.
Harmony was created to change that. Our first product provides gentle, clean nutrition for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy, inspired by the biology of human milk. Looking ahead, our future formulas will move even closer to nature’s blueprint by using biotechnology to replace cow’s milk with recombinant human milk components. This will allow us to eliminate allergens entirely and, for the first time, not just treat but prevent allergies before they begin. Ultimately, Harmony’s mission is to make human milk–inspired nutrition accessible to every family, everywhere.
What makes your company stand out in your space or industry?
The infant formula industry has barely changed in over half a century, dominated by a few giants that continue to rely on cow’s milk as the foundation of their products. Harmony stands apart by reimagining formula from the ground up, using biotechnology and formulation science to bring the composition of infant nutrition closer to that of human milk.
Our formulas are designed through science, not tradition. We’ve developed proprietary formulations that mirror human milk’s form and function, achieving a level of resemblance far beyond conventional formulas. This breakthrough allows us to deliver products that taste better, digest more easily, and better support healthy growth of gut and immune development.
Beyond our technology, what truly sets Harmony apart is our purpose. We’re a team of scientists and parents combining cutting-edge research with lived experience and building a company where innovation and empathy go hand in hand to transform how families feed their babies.
What’s next for your company—what are you most excited to build or accomplish in the future?
We’re gearing up to launch Melodi in the U.S. in early 2026, our first commercial product and a major milestone marking Harmony’s transition from lab to launch. After years of R&D, Melodi will be one of the first science-driven hypoallergenic formulas designed to taste, smell, and perform more like human milk. This launch represents more than a product debut; it’s the first step in redefining how families feed their little ones.
Beyond Melodi, our next chapter focuses on advancing biotechnology to build the world’s first formulas made with recombinant human milk proteins. We’re also expanding our global R&D footprint with a $5.9M grant-backed facility in Brazil dedicated to infant formula innovation. This will accelerate our ability to develop, test, and scale future generations of human milk–inspired nutrition for families around the world.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned on your entrepreneurial journey that might help others?
If you’re working on something that can truly transform the world for the better, perseverance isn’t optional; it’s essential. In science-based businesses, especially biotech, the path to market is long, complex, and highly regulated. Developing bioactive formulas that mimic human milk requires technical excellence, patience to generate robust pre-clinical and clinical data, and the ability to navigate regulatory hurdles. Success also depends on attracting top talent, securing funding, and people skills to keep teams focused through inevitable challenges. In this space, perseverance isn’t just a trait; it’s the engine that drives progress and lasting impact.
Why might someone want to learn more about your offering or follow your progress?
To witness and support how science and innovation are transforming and ultimately will disrupt a massive, $100 billion industry. Infant nutrition has remained stagnant for over 150 years, dominated by a handful of large players with little incentive to innovate.
In today’s world, where biotechnology and nutritional science have advanced dramatically, it makes no sense to rely on modified cow’s milk as the sole source of nutrition for infants. We now have the tools and knowledge to generate the human milk components and create better, more tailored solutions that truly mirror human milk form and functions.
The transformation of this industry isn’t a future possibility. It’s happening today, and Harmony is leading the way on that.
Del Afonso’s Bio
Del Afonso is the founder and CEO of Harmony Baby Nutrition. With over 20 years of experience as a researcher, entrepreneur, and infant nutrition expert, Del has treated thousands of babies with special dietary needs and launched more than 30 innovative nutritional products supported by 30 scientific papers, two book chapters, and seven patents. Harmony was born from his family’s own feeding challenges after his daughter was diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy. Driven by both science and empathy, Del is pioneering biotechnology-based formulas that bring comfort and peace of mind back to feeding.
Links:
Website: www.harmonybabynutrition.com
Crowdfunding campaign: wefunder.com/harmony.baby.nutrition
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