Evolv: Natural GLP-1 Alternative Targets $50 Billion Weight Loss Market

Becca McCarthy identified a massive opportunity in the booming GLP-1 market when she noticed her otherwise healthy friends secretly using Ozempic and Zepbound for weight loss. With global GLP-1 sales estimated at $50 billion, McCarthy recognized consumers wanted appetite control without the stigma, needles, or prescriptions attached to pharmaceutical options.

From Idea to Natural Solution

Her vision became Evolv, a natural oral supplement designed to activate GLP-1 and GIP receptors just like prescription drugs—but without synthetic hormones or the judgment surrounding pharmaceuticals. In 2023, McCarthy partnered with molecular biologist Dr. Corey Henderson, who had developed a novel peptide capable of replicating pharmaceutical GLP-1 effects through natural mechanisms. After testing delivery methods ranging from shakes to supplements, the team settled on a pill format backed by encouraging early data.

Overcoming the Female Founder Challenge

McCarthy’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. As a female founder, she faces inherent biases that make her leadership credibility harder to establish than her likability. She’s been mistaken for an administrative employee at pitch meetings and watched inferior ideas from male competitors secure funding. Yet her biggest marketing hurdle stems from success itself: customers see results but hesitate to discuss using the product, fearing judgment about their weight management methods.

Despite these challenges, McCarthy remains focused on her mission: delivering effective appetite management without requiring doctors, prescriptions, or needles. She believes that when results materialize, word-of-mouth will follow naturally. “People just want to look better naked. So when we deliver on that, that’s what works,” McCarthy concludes.