Hidden Gems: Meet Anja Skodda of HAPPYBOND

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anja Skodda.

Hi Anja, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I actually didn’t start out thinking I would become an entrepreneur in longevity and precision health. My foundation is in science. I studied biotechnology in Berlin, focusing on tissue engineering, and early on I was very deep in the lab world, working on protein expression, fluorescent marker technologies, and automated screening systems in drug development, including research at Novartis in Basel. That experience shaped how I think today: very data-driven, very systems-oriented, and always asking how science can be translated into something practical and impactful.
But at the same time, I’ve always been a builder. My first company wasn’t biotech at all, it was an event and hospitality business I founded in Stockholm in 2006. I scaled that company to over 200 events a year before selling it in 2013. That chapter taught me how to build brands, understand consumers, and actually bring ideas into the real world, not just keep them on paper.
The real turning point came through animals. I’m a lifelong equestrian, and I started developing a collagen-based joint formulation to help my own dressage horses stay healthy and competitive. Then my bulldog, Tony, developed severe arthritis. Applying the same science, I watched him recover in a way that was honestly life-changing. That was the moment I realized that biological age and tissue health mattered far more than the number on a calendar, and that there was a massive gap between what science knows and what people and pets actually have access to.
That insight led me to found HAPPYBOND, and later HAPPYBOND AI, with a focus on extending healthspan through biology, data, and now AI. Along the way, I launched multiple consumer products, including a viral wellness product called Anti Everything, and partnered with people like Cesar Millan, as well as cultural figures such as Halle Berry and Ziggy Marley. But the mission was always the same: preventive, personalized health grounded in real biology.
Today, that work has expanded into humans as well. As Director of Product Development at Liv / Epimorphy, I work on next-generation diagnostic platforms that combine DNA sequencing, epigenetics, microbiome data, and inflammatory markers—especially in women’s health, which has been historically underrepresented in research. Across everything I do, whether it’s women or pets, the core idea is the same: biological age is the most meaningful signal we have, and if we can read it properly, we can intervene earlier, smarter, and more compassionately.
So my journey has been a blend of science, entrepreneurship, and lived experience. I didn’t follow a straight line, but every step, from the lab to consumer brands to AI-driven health platforms, led me to the same question I’m still working on today: how do we help living beings stay healthier for longer, using science that actually works?

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m a first-generation immigrant, and that alone shapes everything. When you move countries, you don’t just reset your address, you reset your entire safety net. I didn’t arrive with generational capital, a built-in network, or family connections in tech or venture. Every relationship, every partnership, every ounce of trust had to be built from zero, often while people were still trying to place me, my accent, my background, my experience, into a box that didn’t quite fit.
Being a solo female founder added another layer. In science and tech, and especially in capital raising, you’re often not the default pattern people expect. I’ve had rooms where I had to prove the science and my credibility and my right to be there, before the conversation could even begin. I’ve pitched with traction, patents, and revenue, and still felt that unspoken question of whether I was “too early,” “too niche,” or simply not what investors were used to backing.
Raising capital has probably been one of the hardest parts. When you’re building at the intersection of deep science, longevity, women’s health, and pet health, you’re often ahead of the market. And when you don’t come from the traditional venture pipeline, you don’t have warm intros by default. That meant a lot of no’s, a lot of closed doors, and a lot of learning how to stay resilient without becoming hardened.
At the same time, I was building a home with my family, emotionally and literally while running companies. There’s a quiet weight to doing that without a long-established community around you. You carry the responsibility alone more often than people see. But those challenges also shaped how I lead. They forced me to be precise, resourceful, and deeply mission-driven. I learned how to build real relationships, not transactional ones. I learned how to translate complex science into language people could understand and trust. And I learned that resilience isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about staying clear on why you’re building, even when the path isn’t smooth.
So no, it hasn’t been easy. But the struggle gave me something invaluable: independence of thought, depth of conviction, and the ability to build systems and communities from the ground up. And in many ways, that’s exactly what my work is about.

As you know, we’re big fans of HAPPYBOND. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
HAPPYBOND is a preventive pet health company built around one core belief: nutrition is the foundation of longevity. Everything we do starts with the idea that if you feed the body correctly, you can influence how an animal ages, physically, metabolically, and biologically.
At the center of the brand is our fresh, shelf-stable dog food, which serves as the nutritional base of the HAPPYBOND ecosystem. We developed it to solve a real problem in the pet industry: most “fresh” food isn’t truly accessible or scalable, and most shelf-stable food sacrifices biological quality for convenience. Our food bridges that gap by delivering real, functional nutrition made from high-quality ingredients, while remaining shelf-stable, practical, and consistent, without freezing or heavy processing that degrades nutrients.
Equally important is how we package it. Our food is produced and packed in glass jars, not plastic. That choice is intentional glass protects food quality, avoids exposure to toxins and microplastics, and reflects our commitment to sustainability. For us, longevity isn’t just about what goes into the body, but also about what we keep out of it, and about making responsible choices for the environment dogs and humans share. From that nutritional foundation, we build targeted health solutions. HAPPYBOND is best known for its collagen-based formulations designed specifically for dogs, supporting joints, connective tissue, gut integrity, skin, and mobility. These products are grounded in bioengineering, tissue science, and canine physiology, not adapted from human supplements—and they’re designed to work in synergy with our food.
What truly sets HAPPYBOND apart is that we treat food as biology, not branding. Nutrition, mobility, and inflammation are deeply connected systems, and we design our offerings to work together as part of a preventive health strategy. This systems-based approach, starting with clean, functional food and extending into science-backed supplementation, is something very few pet brands execute with real depth.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the trust we’ve built. HAPPYBOND has earned credibility in both science and culture. Our partnership with Cesar Millan helped bring whole-health thinking: Body, Mind, and Play, into everyday pet care, and our collaborations with cultural figures have always been value-aligned, rooted in genuine care for animal wellbeing.
What I want readers to know is that HAPPYBOND isn’t about trends or quick fixes. It’s about respect, for biology, for animals, and for the human–animal bond. Everything we create is designed to support dogs in living longer, healthier, more comfortable lives, starting with food and extending into thoughtful, science-driven care.
And while HAPPYBOND began with nutrition and mobility, it’s now evolving into a data-driven future. That next chapter: HAPPYBOND AI, builds on this foundation to personalize care even further, but the heart of the brand will always be HAPPYBOND: food first, science always.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I don’t think of myself as a traditional risk-taker. I think of risk as something you manage, not something you chase.
My background in science shaped that early on. In research, nothing works the first time. You form a hypothesis, you test it, you analyze the data, and you adjust. Failure isn’t dramatic, it’s information. That mindset stayed with me as I moved into entrepreneurship. I don’t take blind risks; I take informed ones. I look at the downside, I look at the data I do have, and then I decide whether the long-term upside is worth stepping into uncertainty.
Being a first-generation immigrant was one of the biggest risks I took early on. Moving countries meant rebuilding my network, stability, and sense of home from scratch. It forced me to become comfortable making decisions without guarantees and trusting my ability to adapt.
Founding my companies was another major risk, especially building at the intersection of biology, consumer health, and innovation before the market was fully ready. As a solo female founder, raising capital added an extra layer, you’re constantly balancing growth with control, and conviction with patience.
For me, risk is about alignment. I’m willing to take big risks when they’re grounded in expertise, values, and a clear long-term vision. The biggest risk, in my experience, is seeing something you believe in and choosing not to act on it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lnk.bio/happybondpet
• Instagram: @happybondpet
• Facebook: @happybondpet
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/happybond
• Other: https://www.livpet.com

Image Credits
Pat Reynolds