Brooklyn-based Gel Matter develops animal-free synthetic mucus materials that reproduce the structure and properties of natural mucus without harvesting animals. Founded around a modular chemistry platform, the company produces scalable materials for uses ranging from skincare ingredients to medical and industrial applications, including its Aquellan line of snail-free skincare actives. Founder and CEO Ilse Nava-Medina, PhD, leads the company alongside a team and board with deep scientific expertise.
Sesha Skin TherapyFounded in 1996 from biomedical research by Harvard- and MIT-educated scientist Dr. Dean Hsieh, Sesha Skin Therapy makes science-based professional skincare for everyday use. Its proprietary Permeation Enhancement Technology (P.E.T.®), developed over more than 30 years, is designed to carry active ingredients into the skin’s regenerative layers; the company’s U.S. lab and headquarters produce paraben-free, non-toxic products that are never tested on animals. Sesha also supports licensed estheticians through specialist treatments, products, and professional resources.WEST CHESTER, PA
Mussel Polymers IncLaunched in 2019, Mussel Polymers Inc. is a Bethlehem specialty materials company built around a Purdue University technology that imitates how mussels adhere underwater. Its team develops Poly(Catechol-Styrene) solutions for organizations facing difficult wet-bonding problems, with work spanning industrial and biomedical applications. The company develops, tests, and produces its materials in Bethlehem, supported by analytical capabilities through Lehigh University.BETHLEHEM, PA
Scalisi Cosmetics, LLCFounded by Jill Scalisi after her experience with skin cancer, Scalisi Cosmetics develops peptide-powered skincare designed to pair clinical performance with the gentleness of sensitive-skin formulas. Drawing on Jill’s background in microbiology and chemistry, the New York company spent five years researching wound-healing science and more than two years formulating its retinol-free products, which are made in the USA and tested for sensitive and post-procedure skin.New York, NY
Aleo BME, IncFounded by scientists from Pennsylvania State University, State College-based Aleo BME develops and manufactures polymeric biomaterials for medical applications. Its nature-inspired polymer platform has produced ElaSkin® Liquid Bandage, an FDA-cleared product made at the company’s cGMP-compliant Pennsylvania facility, while its research pipeline extends into surgical adhesives and tissue repair.541714STATE COLLEGE, PA