Skilaï is a French-based company set up by two professionals working in the nutraceutical industry with a combined experience that spans R&D to product and project management.
"Skilaï offers an externalized management of health and nutrition projects at three different levels: strategy (Global), innovation (Product) and sales communication (Toolbox)," said Marion Dumoulin, co-founder of the company.
“By proposing a new model of outsourcing project management, we allow our customers to benefit from plural experiences. We are free of static procedures, allowed to get out of the beaten track, and easily adaptable to the changing context.“
Dumoulin was involved in the development of Activ’Inside's Memophenol, which recently won the ingredient of the year in the healthy aging category at the NutraIngredients Awards this year.
The ingredient is based on a French grape and wild blueberry blend that is claimed to boost cognitive performance and memory.
Although based in north-west France, Skilaï’s expertise will not be restricted to Europe and its regulatory landscape.
“We grew up within the stringent European regulation context but we have both worked internationally,” said Dumoulin.
“For us, the regulation is a legal answer to the final customer concerns. The new generation wants to be truly informed and to know more about the product’s traceability.
“With Skilaï, our ambition is to manage projects with any company in the world which may need our services."
Consumer’s increased expectations
Dumoulin added that increasing expectations of the nutraceutical market meant the pressure is on health and nutrition companies to bring a product to consumers more quickly.
“The nutraceutical industry is driven by three dimensions: the market, the science and the regulation. We help our clients to manage their projects with this tri-dimensional point of view.
“Skilaï can assist our clients in thinking about innovation, assisting them in creating their tools and supports and on a wider scale help in analyzing the situation and defining the best strategy.”
The name Skilaï originates from SKILL in English, and AÏ (union, harmony) in Japanese and Skilaï essentially means ‘associate people skills to reach the same goal’.
Dumoulin said the original sound of the short word underlines its dynamic and innovative approach.
Fellow co-founder Kilian Sohier, a nutraceutical engineer, has worked for contract manufacturing organisations (CMO) and more recently for an ingredient supplier in business development positions and of general manager.
He joins Dumoulin, herself a Doctor of Pharmacy with a Master's degree in phytochemistry. Her experience working in the nutraceutical industry has been with natural ingredient suppliers with roles in R&D and product management.
More information can be found at the company’s website here.