UMD Startup Mblue Labs Named One of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses

Mblue Labs, a University of Maryland (UMD) startup company and creator of the skin health brand Bluelene (www.bluelene.com), has been named to the prestigious CO—100: America’s Top 100 Small Businesses list, announced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Selected from over 14,000 applicants, Mblue Labs stood out for its exceptional growth, groundbreaking scientific research, resilience, and diverse and inclusive company culture. The CO—100 features a range of small businesses across industries and sizes, representing 31 states and Washington, D.C. 

Mblue Labs was founded in 2018 as a spinout company from the University of Maryland to commercialize a groundbreaking skin health technology discovered by Professor of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics Kan Cao, an expert on human aging. Initially researching treatments for Progeria, an accelerated aging disease affecting young teens, Dr. Cao discovered that Methylene Blue, a potent antioxidant and mitochondrial booster, reverses skin aging at a molecular level. This breakthrough was published in Nature's Scientific Reports and marked a significant advancement in the health and beauty market. Teaming up with CEO Jasmin El Kordi, Cao created Mblue Labs, and launched Bluelene, the only patented Methylene Blue-powered skincare line.

"At UMD, we prioritize translating groundbreaking scientific research into impactful commercial ventures. We take immense pride in seeing our spin-out companies achieve remarkable market success,” said UM Ventures Executive Director Ken Porter. “Mblue Labs exemplifies this journey, showcasing extraordinary focus and determination in transforming their innovative research into a globally recognized health and beauty brand. Their story is also a testament to the powerful collaboration between our university and pioneering scientists in safeguarding intellectual property. UMD holds the patent for Methylene Blue, a revolutionary ingredient in reversing skin aging, and sub-licenses it exclusively to Mblue Labs.”Mblue Labs is offering a special discount on Bluelene products for members of the UMD community, who can use code  “UMD20” at checkout, which provides a 20% discount.
 

This news item was adapted from a press release from Mblue Labs.