Optimi Health

Overview

It pays to be healthy, depending on how you invest your money. The global wellness industry has already reached US$4 trillion annually, highlighting the massive demand for non-traditional health and wellness products. Psychedelics are emerging as a promising segment of this industry. Psilocybin, famous for its role in “magic mushrooms” is already projected to reach a portion of the US$10.75 billion psychedelic market by 2027. While plenty of hurdles remain to be overcome, psilocybin leads the psychedelic charge towards a new era of wellness.

Why psilocybin? Studies have already shown that the psychedelic compound and its mushrooms have both mental health and nutritional benefits. For example, one study found that psilocybin treatment for major depression is effective for up to a year. Another study indicated effectiveness in treating alcohol abuse. However, legal and regulatory hurdles remain even with solid science backing it. According to the Canadian government, one such hurdle is that mushrooms and their chemical isolates must live up to the standards of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Pioneers who leap over these hurdles position themselves to capitalize on the emerging market.

The company recently unveiled its state-of-the-art, technologically advanced EU-GMP cultivation facilities dedicated to the growing of safe, high-quality psychedelic and functional mushrooms. The facility, already licensed by Health Canada for psilocybin manufacturing, can produce 2,000 kilograms per month. Optimi Health’s cultivation process has a six-week growth cycle while maintaining the standards and quality of EU-GMP guidelines. A request to amend its Controlled Substances Dealer’s Licence was granted by Health Canada in May, enabling the Company to further expand capacity to produce natural, EU-GMP psilocybin as well as introducing a provision to extract psilocin for use in clinical trials. Under the terms of the amendment, the Company is now permitted to possess a quota of up to 5,000 kilograms of dried psilocybin mushrooms – the equivalent of 10 kilograms of psilocybin – and 100 grams of psilocin.

Optimi Health has multiple revenue streams to target different needs of the psychedelic industry. Optimi Products, its line of nutraceuticals, is already generating revenue. Additional revenue streams include Optimi Farms and Optimi Labs. All three streams aim to serve different segments of the psilocybin market with quality-first products.

Optimi Farms will become the primary revenue stream as the company aims to dominate the natural, functional mushroom market with large-scale vertical and GMP-compliant farming operations. Meanwhile, Optimi Labs is developing advanced formulations and intellectual properties that include improved delivery formulations, optimized extraction processes, and improved protocols for improving patients’ beneficial outcomes.

In a recent interview, the company’s CEO Bill Ciprick explained, “The thing that sets us apart in the mushroom space is our commitment to quality. And that’s something you’re going to see through our actions. Quality is our focus, with everything starting from the research to our amazing products that we get into the hands of individuals and healthcare professionals. Other players are trying to be quick to market, but we have a long-term lens. We will set the standard; we’ll be GMP certified out of the gate. I think others will have a really hard time keeping up.”

Optimi Health is led by a management team with the right experience to achieve its ambitions goals. Bill Ciprick, CEO, brings 25 years of experience helping build companies with financial and management expertise. Jacob Safarik, CFO, brings 12 years of experience in project finance, business development, and accounting. Bryan Safarik, COO, has 15 years of experience developing operational efficiencies for companies across multiple industries. Justin Kirkland, CSO, is a chemist with experience in natural products and holds a master’s degree in biology. Additional directors and advisors round out the team to form an encouraging management group.

Company Highlights

• Optimi Health aims to become a global leader in GMP-certified psilocybin and functional mushroom products to cater to the emerging psychedelic segment of the wellness industry.
• Three revenue streams are in the works to fully capitalize on the diverse needs of the growing market: Optimi Labs, Optimi Farms and Optimi Products. Optimi Products is already generating revenue, while Optimi Farms is slated to become the primary revenue driver.
• The company’s first GMP-certified manufacturing facility will open in May 2022 and can produce 2,000 kilograms of high-quality mushroom products per month. Health Canada has licensed the facility. The new facility will support all three revenue streams.
• An experienced management team leads Optimi Health with expertise in corporate finance, operational excellence, and various scientific disciplines.