Celebrating Radicle Leadership: Pelin Thorogood Named San Diego’s Business Woman of the Year 2024
Radicle Science offers a "Proof-as-a-Service" platform that conducts large-scale, placebo-controlled clinical trials to validate the safety and efficacy of non-prescription health products.
Pelin Thorogood, the co-founder and executive chair of Radicle Science, has been recognized as San Diego Business Journal’s 2024 Business Woman of the Year in the small, private business category. A trailblazer in healthtech and a champion of San Diego’s startup ecosystem, Thorogood’s work exemplifies innovation, corporate responsibility, and community impact.
A Radicle Approach to Healthtech
Thorogood’s groundbreaking work at Radicle Science has defined a new era in health analytics. The company’s “Proof-as-a-Service” model leverages artificial intelligence, smart devices, and survey-based methodologies to conduct clinical research at scale. Since its launch in 2021, Radicle Science has conducted placebo-controlled studies with over 60,000 Americans, a remarkable feat in the wellness industry.
Under Thorogood’s guidance, the company has achieved 100% year-over-year growth, earning accolades such as Fast Company’s “World Changing Idea” and KPMG’s “Top Ten U.S. Tech Innovator.”
What sets Radicle Science apart is its commitment to inclusivity. The company ensures historically underrepresented populations are part of its clinical trials, with 30% of participants from minority groups and 20% from rural areas. As a certified B-Corp, Radicle Science aligns its business goals with the greater good, demonstrating the potential for innovation to drive both profitability and social impact.
A History of Leadership and Growth
Before founding Radicle Science, Thorogood established her reputation as a data and analytics expert with a series of leadership roles. As CEO of Anametrix, she oversaw a successful Series A capital raise, tripled revenue, and ultimately guided the company to a successful acquisition by Ensighten in 2014. She also served as Chief Marketing Officer for WebSideStory/Visual Sciences, which was acquired by Omniture/Adobe in 2008.
A Passion for Mentorship and Community
Thorogood’s impact extends far beyond her professional accomplishments. A dedicated advocate for startups and education, she actively mentors young entrepreneurs and fosters innovation through her involvement with UC San Diego’s Basement incubator program. She has sponsored interdisciplinary innovation sprints and provided guidance to dozens of students on the path to building successful businesses.
Her contributions to the San Diego innovation ecosystem include volunteering with Connect, where she has helped organize and emceed the VIP Experience at San Diego Innovation Day.
“Pelin is an inspiration to all those who work with her. Her passion, energy, and the generosity with which she gives her time have motivated not just her company or the university but the entire regional innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Paul Roben, UCSD’s Associate Vice Chancellor of Innovation and Commercialization.
A Lifelong Commitment to Impact
Thorogood is not just a leader in business but a steward of philanthropy. She co-founded the Wholistic Research and Education Foundation, which funded the largest cannabinoid study in history at UC San Diego. She is a Trustee and Vice Chair of the UC San Diego Foundation, Chair of the UC San Diego Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council, and a member of the Advisory Board of the UCSD Human Milk Institute.
As one of the first signatories of the UCSD Founders’ Pledge, Thorogood has committed a portion of her equity from Radicle Science to global problem-solving initiatives. She also continues to contribute to her alma mater, Cornell University, serving as an Industry Scholar for the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures.
A Keystone of Innovation
Pelin Thorogood’s achievements represent a fusion of innovative thinking, ethical leadership, and community-driven action. Her recognition as San Diego’s Business Woman of the Year 2024 is a testament to her transformative impact, not just within Radicle Science, but across the San Diego innovation community and beyond.
Thorogood’s journey continues to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs, proving that radical ideas, when paired with purpose and persistence, can truly change the world.
Read more in San Diego Business Journal
Listen to Pelin Thorogood with Scott Harley on the Venture Everywhere podcast: Radicle Solutions. Now on Apple & Spotify and check out all our past episodes here!
