Pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in injectable GLP-1 drugs for appetite control and weight management. In parallel, founder Becca McCarthy has focused on an alternative approach: an oral, natural-ingredient product targeting similar biological pathways without injections or synthetic hormones.
McCarthy’s background is in early-stage startups, where she has specialized in identifying emerging cultural and market shifts. She observed increasing, low-visibility use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Zepbound for weight loss, particularly among individuals who were not the drugs’ original target population of diabetes patients.
These users often administered weekly injections privately and did not disclose their use, indicating a discrepancy between public wellness narratives and private behavior. In communities that emphasize self-discipline and “clean” living, reliance on prescription injections carried social stigma, even when the outcomes were desired.
From this, McCarthy inferred a market gap: strong demand for appetite suppression and metabolic support, combined with resistance to needles, prescriptions, and perceived judgment. She hypothesized that a natural, orally delivered product that could approximate key effects of GLP-1 receptor activation would address this unmet need and access a large potential customer base.
This hypothesis led to the creation of Evolv, a supplement intended to emulate certain functional aspects of GLP-1 drugs. McCarthy partnered with molecular biologist Dr. Corey Henderson, who had developed a peptide designed to interact with GLP-1 and GIP receptors via a mechanism initiated in the gut, using naturally derived components rather than synthetic hormones.
The team evaluated several delivery formats, including shakes and conventional supplements, before selecting a pill form. According to their internal assessments, early data and user feedback indicated promising appetite-related outcomes, reinforcing McCarthy’s conviction that a natural GLP-1 alternative could influence consumer behavior in weight management and metabolic health.
Operationally, McCarthy has encountered structural and perceptual challenges in fundraising. In some investor meetings, she has been misidentified as support staff, while male founders presenting what she viewed as less robust concepts secured capital. She characterizes the bias as subtle but consistent, with her competence recognized but her perceived likability questioned, which can affect investor decision-making.
On the customer side, product adoption introduces its own communication constraints. Many users are reluctant to attribute visible body changes to a supplement, preferring to cite lifestyle modifications such as increased exercise. This reluctance reduces transparent testimonials and limits organic word-of-mouth growth, despite reported results.
McCarthy continues to pursue the strategy that a discreet, natural, orally delivered appetite-management tool can compete with or complement injectable GLP-1 therapies. Her position is that, over time, measurable outcomes in weight and metabolic markers will drive adoption, even if users remain publicly reserved about the product’s role.
