Anne Palermo

About Anne Palermo

I am a seasoned entrepreneur and food-tech innovator leading Akarso Bio, where we are on a mission to transform weight-management and metabolic health through a science first, naturally derived ingredient platform. At Akarso Bio we’ve developed a proprietary approach that uses fermented fibers to stimulate GLP-1 release, enhance satiety and support glycemic control, enabling consumer brands and ingredient houses to deliver clean label, high performance solutions at scale.With an entrepreneurial track record spanning over 15 years in CPG & food-tech (and having scaled a prior food-tech startup from zero to national distribution), I bring deep expertise in R&D, patent development, fermentation, ingredient commercialization and strategic corporate partnerships. Our leadership team combines bioscience rigor and commercial acumen, positioning Akarso Bio to bridge emerging science with real world market opportunities.For CPG and nutraceutical companies seeking next-gen functional ingredients that deliver on both consumer health trends (satiety, metabolic wellness, gut health) and sustainability imperatives (fermented fiber, scalable biotech), we are a compelling partner. For venture capital and strategic investors focused on food-tech, clean label ingredients, and metabolic health innovation, we are actively seeking collaborators who share our vision of accessible, impactful nutrition.In my role I drive end-to-end from patent strategy and fermentation platform build out, through alliance development, to pilot and commercial rollout. I’m passionate about building high growth ventures headquartered in Illinois, unlocking the Midwestern innovation ecosystem, and contributing to the transition of global food systems toward more sustainable, health-first models.Let’s connect if you are:A CPG or ingredient company looking for a breakthrough satiety or metabolic-health ingredientA nutraceutical/functional-food brand seeking clean-label solutions that support GLP-1 pathways, satiety and glycemic wellnessA venture fund or strategic investor focused on food-tech, functional ingredients, microbiome/metabolic health or climate-smart nutritionCore CompetenciesStartup Leadership | Commercial Strategy | Ingredient Innovation | Fundraising & M&A | IP Development | Strategic Partnerships | Food & Beverage | Public Speaking & PR | Cross Functional Team Building | Market Creation | Fermentation Technology | Deep Tech / Life Sciences | Food Tech / Biotech | Food is Medicine

Experience

1. Finance Committee

   Citizens For Conservation

   Jan 2026 — Present

Education

• University of Cambridge

  Lecture Facilitator: Policy & Entrepreneurship

• University of Illinois at Chicago

  Finance

• The French Pastry School

  Culinary Innovation

• University of Washington

  Business Administration and Management, General