A Man with A Molecule Mission.
“I've always wanted to make an impact with my body of work,” says Josh Held, a third-generation entrepreneur whose diverse expertise spans finance, law, sales, and marketing. Now, as the founder of Chemistry Holdings and Made By Science — two companies at the forefront of sustainable product and cannabis innovation — he is positioned to take on a new role: wellness thought leader and visionary.
Held is a unique player in the space, fusing a venerable business background with boundless scientific curiosity and a natural talent for spotting “the next big thing.” In addition, he brings immense depth in corporate development, deal origination, complex deal structures, legal planning, business succession planning, new brand build-outs, media planning, and cross-disciplinary leadership. His track record in the financial sphere is also sound: As Vice President of Investments for JP Morgan, he managed more than $100 million in investment dollars for HNW individuals, families, and family offices, demonstrating a working knowledge of the financial arena and an ability to cultivate sound business relationships.
But at his core, Held is an activator. His quest for innovation is firmly anchored by a belief that strategic thinking, analysis, and validation are the cornerstones of maximizing growth in any sector.
“Maximizing the utility of all molecules and unlocking the power of molecule delivery could change how vaccines are delivered, add shelf stability to ingredients, help us to overcome deficiencies, and even extend the time for which our natural resources last,” Held says. “The reach is endless.”
At Chemistry Holdings, he acts as a business growth partner to food and beverage, wellness, and social impact communities, providing support for and encouraging next-level innovation. The company focuses on inventive, sustainably-made products developed by a carefully chosen team of scientists, market strategists, product designers, and project deployment specialists.
As CEO of Made By Science, Held led the creation of new cannabis technology and consumer-friendly products that impact everything from sleep and anxiety to pain management. The company recently merged with Gesundheit Foods to create Form Factory, Inc., which was just acquired by Acreage Holdings. The back-to-back mergers has placed Held at the helm of the largest cannabis product manufacturing and distribution platform in the United States.
A business and family man who values strong relationships, Held vetted the Form Factory team himself, bringing on top talent from around the globe — including Chief Scientific Officer, Teresa Virgallito, one of the world’s foremost experts in conceptualizing and commercializing customized products in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, wellness and nutrition, and cosmetics and personal care. She holds 62 patents on a range of micro-encapsulation systems and processes, earning her the internal moniker, “The Oracle of Molecule Delivery.”
By designing solutions for common problems related to drug efficacy, formulation, onset, dosage, and labeling, Held and his teams are raising the bar for wellness product manufacturers and sellers around the globe. He says he looks forward to helping to shape the future of nutrition and drug delivery by creating a platform of technologies that not only create new product experiences, but also cater to a wide range of consumer ailments. Combined with his vast network and never-give-up mentality, he hopes the technology his ventures produce will be what he calls an “open-source API” for multiple industries to plug into.
So, what is next? The opportunities are endless.