By Sheldon Baker, Baker Dillon Group08.21.23
Ziv Haklili is co-founder of Scale Media and 1MD Nutrition, and his passion for making a lasting impact has been realized through his involvement in 1MD Nutrition, to offer natural and effective supplements with scientifically backed dosages formulated by health professionals.
Reconnecting with his middle school best friend, Ben Flohr, the duo launched 1MD Nutrition in 2016. Their entrepreneurial journey began when they noticed a rise in probiotics' popularity but could not find supplements that worked. Haklili and Flohr sought to differentiate themselves from the competition by teaming up with health professionals to develop nutraceuticals that provided real results. Today, the company offers more than 120 products across five different brands, addressing key health areas.
Haklili and Flohr are dedicated to addressing widespread health issues in the U.S., including digestive disorders, metabolic syndrome, and joint health. Haklili has created a unique position within the market and is devoted to transforming the nutraceutical landscape by persistently raising the bar for quality, standards, and efficacy. Haklili envisions a future where 1MD offers personalized health plans and consultations with medical professionals, helping people achieve optimal health through tailored solutions.
Health E-Insights (HEI): How and why was 1MD formed?
Haklili: The idea of 1MD Nutrition stemmed from the pressure of entrepreneurship and the personal quest for an effective stress-relieving solution. We experimented with several supplement brands, and after a year realized none of those supplements had a positive impact on our wellbeing. Upon conducting research on clinical studies, we discovered the brands did not contain the correct dosages mentioned in the studies to benefit users. We noticed these brands were exploiting consumers' lack of knowledge.
This bombshell discovery propelled us to collaborate and develop a supplement brand with the appropriate clinical dosage and educate consumers on how to distinguish between effective and non-effective supplements.
HEI: Are the five health professionals on your website company investors? What is their role?
Haklili: The five physicians featured on the 1MD Nutrition website are not investors. They are board-certified physicians whose mission is to develop the best health and wellness solutions. Today, physician partners include Dr. Heather Shenkman, a board-certified interventional cardiologist; Dr. Adam Kreitenberg, dual board-certified in rheumatology and internal medicine; Dr. David Kahana, board-certified in pediatrics, gastroenterology, and nutrition; Dr. Daniel Brison, a board-certified urologist; and Dr. Brian Greenberg, a 40-year veteran of immunology and allergy.
HEI: Overall, what was the biggest challenge you faced in launching 1MD?
Haklili: When 1MD Nutrition was launched in 2016, many supplement companies based their supplement marketing claims on doses used in clinical studies, but those clinically validated doses were not present in the supplements themselves. Concurrently, at the core of our business (model), was the mission to help people find natural alternatives to big pharma, as only a small percentage of doctors carried nutraceuticals, and even fewer were trained in nutrition, but identifying and partnering with MDs passionate about nutrition was challenging.
HEI: What is your approach to product development?
Haklili: When developing the product line, 1MD Nutrition continues to collaborate with physicians and their clinical expertise, formulating with multiple ingredients at their clinically studied dose to form a comprehensive solution to the health issue at hand. The mission is to address the underlying cause rather than just treating a symptom, allowing customers to genuinely experience a noticeable improvement in their health.
1MD Nutrition takes an integrative approach when crafting new supplements, considering ingredients, sustainability, and sourcing. Once a formula has been born out of a years-long research and development phase, they are put through vigorous third-party testing to ensure every batch meets the highest standards, testing every single lot and never releasing anything that doesn't pass every spec, no matter the cost.
HEI: What do you consider your company's competitive advantage?
Haklili: From the beginning, our goal was to create effective, clinically backed, physician-formulated supplements that would make a real difference in people's lives—supplements that would include ingredients to help produce measurable results and generate customer trust. We're proud of the progress we've made, and with the support of our loyal customers and the medical community, we're confident that we will continue to innovate and grow, making a positive impact on millions of lives worldwide.
With digestive diseases affecting 60-70 million Americans, heart disease impacting 20 million adults, and liver disease afflicting more than 100 million Americans, 1MD Nutrition aims to provide innovative solutions like Complete Probiotics Platinum, CholestMD, and award-winning LiverMD. These products are designed to enhance the quality of life for millions coping with these prevalent health challenges.
HEI: Why should a consumer purchase 1MD products?
Haklili: We founded 1MD Nutrition with the belief that everyone deserves access to the best natural health solutions backed by science. We’re not just a supplement company. We’re dedicated to educating, creating the community, while providing the tools needed to take control of a person’s health and wellness regimen. We empower people to make their own health decisions.
HEI: At this point, what is your most important, mission, core values, or vision?
Haklili: Our mission is to bring to market clinically effective, physician-formulated nutritional supplement solutions that are affecting the gravest health problems of Americans. That’s what drives every key business decision. Keeping this as the nucleus of our values and vision will continue to propel us forward as a one-of-a-kind health advocate brand.
HEI: What do you feel is the future of dietary supplements or have you arrived at that point?
Haklili: Looking forward, we plan to double down on education and personalization, providing greater access and touchpoints with renowned health professionals. 1MD Nutrition intends to improve personalization, with the aim of creating customized supplement routines for customers with the added benefit of consultations.
In addition, 1MD Nutrition plans to add a diagnostic aspect to its offerings, giving customers opportunities to measure the effectiveness of its products. These additional services will give customers even more confidence in the effectiveness of 1MD products, furthering the mission of empowering individuals to lead stronger, healthier lives.
About the Author: Sheldon Baker is CEO of Baker Dillon Group LLC and has created numerous nutraceutical brand marketing communications and public relations campaigns for well-known supplement and food industry companies. For Health E-Insights interview consideration or brand marketing consulting, contact him at SBaker@BakerDillon.com.
Reconnecting with his middle school best friend, Ben Flohr, the duo launched 1MD Nutrition in 2016. Their entrepreneurial journey began when they noticed a rise in probiotics' popularity but could not find supplements that worked. Haklili and Flohr sought to differentiate themselves from the competition by teaming up with health professionals to develop nutraceuticals that provided real results. Today, the company offers more than 120 products across five different brands, addressing key health areas.
Haklili and Flohr are dedicated to addressing widespread health issues in the U.S., including digestive disorders, metabolic syndrome, and joint health. Haklili has created a unique position within the market and is devoted to transforming the nutraceutical landscape by persistently raising the bar for quality, standards, and efficacy. Haklili envisions a future where 1MD offers personalized health plans and consultations with medical professionals, helping people achieve optimal health through tailored solutions.
Health E-Insights (HEI): How and why was 1MD formed?
Haklili: The idea of 1MD Nutrition stemmed from the pressure of entrepreneurship and the personal quest for an effective stress-relieving solution. We experimented with several supplement brands, and after a year realized none of those supplements had a positive impact on our wellbeing. Upon conducting research on clinical studies, we discovered the brands did not contain the correct dosages mentioned in the studies to benefit users. We noticed these brands were exploiting consumers' lack of knowledge.
This bombshell discovery propelled us to collaborate and develop a supplement brand with the appropriate clinical dosage and educate consumers on how to distinguish between effective and non-effective supplements.
HEI: Are the five health professionals on your website company investors? What is their role?
Haklili: The five physicians featured on the 1MD Nutrition website are not investors. They are board-certified physicians whose mission is to develop the best health and wellness solutions. Today, physician partners include Dr. Heather Shenkman, a board-certified interventional cardiologist; Dr. Adam Kreitenberg, dual board-certified in rheumatology and internal medicine; Dr. David Kahana, board-certified in pediatrics, gastroenterology, and nutrition; Dr. Daniel Brison, a board-certified urologist; and Dr. Brian Greenberg, a 40-year veteran of immunology and allergy.
HEI: Overall, what was the biggest challenge you faced in launching 1MD?
Haklili: When 1MD Nutrition was launched in 2016, many supplement companies based their supplement marketing claims on doses used in clinical studies, but those clinically validated doses were not present in the supplements themselves. Concurrently, at the core of our business (model), was the mission to help people find natural alternatives to big pharma, as only a small percentage of doctors carried nutraceuticals, and even fewer were trained in nutrition, but identifying and partnering with MDs passionate about nutrition was challenging.
HEI: What is your approach to product development?
Haklili: When developing the product line, 1MD Nutrition continues to collaborate with physicians and their clinical expertise, formulating with multiple ingredients at their clinically studied dose to form a comprehensive solution to the health issue at hand. The mission is to address the underlying cause rather than just treating a symptom, allowing customers to genuinely experience a noticeable improvement in their health.
1MD Nutrition takes an integrative approach when crafting new supplements, considering ingredients, sustainability, and sourcing. Once a formula has been born out of a years-long research and development phase, they are put through vigorous third-party testing to ensure every batch meets the highest standards, testing every single lot and never releasing anything that doesn't pass every spec, no matter the cost.
HEI: What do you consider your company's competitive advantage?
Haklili: From the beginning, our goal was to create effective, clinically backed, physician-formulated supplements that would make a real difference in people's lives—supplements that would include ingredients to help produce measurable results and generate customer trust. We're proud of the progress we've made, and with the support of our loyal customers and the medical community, we're confident that we will continue to innovate and grow, making a positive impact on millions of lives worldwide.
With digestive diseases affecting 60-70 million Americans, heart disease impacting 20 million adults, and liver disease afflicting more than 100 million Americans, 1MD Nutrition aims to provide innovative solutions like Complete Probiotics Platinum, CholestMD, and award-winning LiverMD. These products are designed to enhance the quality of life for millions coping with these prevalent health challenges.
HEI: Why should a consumer purchase 1MD products?
Haklili: We founded 1MD Nutrition with the belief that everyone deserves access to the best natural health solutions backed by science. We’re not just a supplement company. We’re dedicated to educating, creating the community, while providing the tools needed to take control of a person’s health and wellness regimen. We empower people to make their own health decisions.
HEI: At this point, what is your most important, mission, core values, or vision?
Haklili: Our mission is to bring to market clinically effective, physician-formulated nutritional supplement solutions that are affecting the gravest health problems of Americans. That’s what drives every key business decision. Keeping this as the nucleus of our values and vision will continue to propel us forward as a one-of-a-kind health advocate brand.
HEI: What do you feel is the future of dietary supplements or have you arrived at that point?
Haklili: Looking forward, we plan to double down on education and personalization, providing greater access and touchpoints with renowned health professionals. 1MD Nutrition intends to improve personalization, with the aim of creating customized supplement routines for customers with the added benefit of consultations.
In addition, 1MD Nutrition plans to add a diagnostic aspect to its offerings, giving customers opportunities to measure the effectiveness of its products. These additional services will give customers even more confidence in the effectiveness of 1MD products, furthering the mission of empowering individuals to lead stronger, healthier lives.
About the Author: Sheldon Baker is CEO of Baker Dillon Group LLC and has created numerous nutraceutical brand marketing communications and public relations campaigns for well-known supplement and food industry companies. For Health E-Insights interview consideration or brand marketing consulting, contact him at SBaker@BakerDillon.com.
