NYA FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT ‒ BETH SCHINKEL, MOTHER’S MILK IS BEST CO-FOUNDER & CEO

As a dietitian and neonatal intensive care unit nurse, Beth Schinkel co-founded Mother’s Milk Is Best to help better feed premature babies. Working directly with premature infants, Beth saw a clear unmet need, and that experience ultimately led her to develop a medical device to remove a small amount of water from breast milk to concentrate its nutrients. Beth shares how New York Angels recognized the potential in the pre-market concept, working with NYA Member Ray Farrell as a Board Observer, and how living through tough environments makes her stronger as an entrepreneur.

How did you first meet New York Angels?

We were first introduced to Seth Masters and began with online meetings before eventually meeting in person. Our team traveled to New York, and through that process, Seth Masters and Ray Farrell became the leads for our raise.

We worked very closely with them, and it’s been a great experience. Ray is now an observer on our board of directors, which has been incredibly valuable.

When you were fundraising, what were you looking for in investors, and why did you choose to work with New York Angels?

We were looking for investors who understood that our medical device is built on a very simple concept. Sometimes the simplest ideas can be overlooked, but they can also have an enormous impact.

Taking a small amount of water out of milk may sound minor, but it can make a huge difference in the growth and health of premature babies. New York Angels really recognized that potential and were excited about what we were doing. They saw that although this was a simple solution, it wasn’t available in the market, and there was a clear need to be filled. That understanding and enthusiasm made us very happy to work with them.

What was the overall fundraising process like for Mother’s Milk is Best?

This was our first experience with traditional fundraising. Previously, we had been funded primarily through federal and state grants, so the process was different. Grants focus heavily on milestones, whereas investors want to understand your go-to-market strategy and long-term trajectory.

New York Angels asked thoughtful, insightful questions, which helped us refine our plans. At the time, we were also balancing existing grants and pending funding, so determining how much to raise, without under- or over-raising, was an important consideration. Overall, it was a great experience. We closed our round right at our cap and right on the deadline.

What have you enjoyed most about working with New York Angels?

The level of support has been incredible. Ray Farrell, who led our round and now serves as a board observer, has a deep understanding of both our device and its real-world impact. He also has a personal connection to the mission, which gives him a unique perspective.

Ray also has met with us in person several times.  He has attended a conference with us in Boston and helped us think strategically about where to build meaningful connections. His background in patent law has also been extremely helpful, as he has been able to provide high-level guidance on our patent strategy as we plan for expansion.

I am based in Colorado and my partner is in Massachusetts, so having the chance to meet investors in person in New York was especially meaningful. Those face-to-face connections really matter.

Working with New York Angels has been a wonderful experience. The diversity of backgrounds, expertise, and resources within the group has been incredibly valuable. We are grateful for their support and look forward to continuing to work together.

What advice would you give other founders who are fundraising?

It’s essential to understand whether you’re a good fit for the investor group and whether they’re a good fit for you. Many investor groups focus heavily on the stage that the company is at.

We were pre-market and still navigating FDA approval, with NIH-funded clinical studies underway. Our device was not yet in market and being sold, and some investors are not comfortable investing at that stage. Knowing that upfront helps ensure you’re making the best use of both your time and theirs. Alignment is key for a successful engagement.

What advice would you give other early-stage investors?

Look closely at the team and their passion to bringing their business to a successful exit. Numbers and projections matter, but team cohesion and complementary skill sets are critical to long-term success.

My co-founder and I come from different fields, medical device engineering, nursing, and dietetics, and that combination was essential to building and fine tuning this product. Strong teams are able to flex, move forward, and bring in new expertise as needed.

What has driven Mother’s Milk is Best’s success?

The team has been the foundation of everything. When people truly understand the importance of the mission, that shared purpose keeps you focused and moving forward.

We could not have achieved our success without my amazing Co-Founder, Elizabeth Nelson.  We also have a fantastic network of collaborators and other investors. Our NIH funded clinical studies will be at several NICUs including Weill Cornell, Yale, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Our FDA Breakthrough Technology Designation could not be done without our partners.

Our mission is simple: bringing more of the benefits of mother’s milk to preterm babies. That clarity has helped us stay focused and resilient. We have had to navigate through grant funding dips during the pandemic, but we kept hitting milestones and moving forward. A huge part of our success is that fact we are tenacious.

We have also been fortunate to secure grant funding at critical moments, which allowed us to run lean while investing strategically when needed. Our partnerships with investors, research collaborators, and grant organizations have accelerated our progress and positioned us well for future FDA market release and future sales.

What’s something interesting about your background that you’d like to share with founders or investors?

All my past work experiences built skills that come together in entrepreneurship, research, adaptability, resilience, and perspective. I have worked in many different areas, from the Boston Public Library to managing a horse-drawn, chuck wagon restaurant out West, to working in Sub-Saharan West Africa helping establish villages run their own clinic. I have also worked as both a community and clinical dietitian and later as a NICU nurse. When you’ve lived through tough environments, you know you can keep moving forward, even when things get hard.

What motivates you as a founder?

The babies. Everything comes back to that.

As a NICU nurse, I saw premature babies become extremely sick from formula feedings that full-term babies could tolerate but they could not. That stayed with me. Every time something feels difficult, whether it’s fundraising, presenting, or navigating challenges, I remind myself that it’s far easier than watching a baby suffer.

This is a solution that can save lives. That’s what drives me to keep pushing forward and to bring this device to market worldwide. It’s truly a mission.