Inc. Names Alafair Biosciences' Sarah Mayes, Ph.D. to Its 2025 Female Founders 500 List

, /PRNewswire/ -- Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced its eighth annual Female Founders list, honoring a bold group of 500 women whose innovations and ideas are leading their industries forward. These resilient entrepreneurs expressed grit and drive to collectively attract approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding. This year, Inc. added Alafair Biosciences' Chief Scientific Officer & Co-founder, Sarah Mayes, Ph.D. to the list.

"Being named to the Inc. 2025 Female Founders 500 List is an incredible honor and a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team at Alafair," said Sarah Mayes, Ph.D. "When we founded this company, our mission was clear—to develop innovative solutions that truly improve patient outcomes. VersaWrap^® transforming surgical care and gaining widespread adoption is deeply rewarding. This recognition is not just about me; it's about every person who has believed in our vision, from our scientists and engineers to our distribution partners and the surgeons who trust our technology. I'm excited for what's ahead as we continue to push boundaries and expand our impact in the medical field."

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey — from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization.

Dr. Mayes fits well within this esteemed group of women. Just a few notable achievements from her exceptional career include developing the VersaWrap technology while a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, translating the technology into a commercial product by leading the product development, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, clinical, and intellectual property strategy, obtaining seven FDA clearances for VersaWrap Hydrogel Sheet (VersaWrap Tendon Protector, VersaWrap Nerve Protector), obtaining 51% year-over-year revenue growth from VersaWrap Hydrogel Sheet sales this past year, and surpassing over 24,000 implants of VersaWrap nationwide. Dr. Mayes's work is widely recognized, with 39 issued patents and multiple published manuscripts.

"Female founders know what struggle is, but they're also experts of improvisation, adaptability, and creativity. The women featured on this year's list exemplify these qualities. Through times of uncertainty, their unwavering dedication and steadfast leadership are not only inspiring but vital to driving progress," said Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom.

Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine's Female Founders issue, on newsstands March 18, 2025. To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Alafair Biosciences, Inc.
Alafair is a privately held medical device company developing and marketing an innovative product portfolio based on its proprietary hydrogel technology. The mission of Alafair is to revolutionize surgical care with our versatile hydrogel technology, delivering unparalleled value to patients, surgeons, and healthcare facilities by enhancing soft tissue protection and by elevating patient outcomes. Alafair products are distributed through a dispersed network of independent distributors across the United States.

About VersaWrap^® Hydrogel Sheet
VersaWrap Hydrogel Sheet (VersaWrap Tendon Protector, VersaWrap Nerve Protector) is an FDA-cleared medical device implant (not tissue) comprising hyaluronic acid (HA) and alginate that provides a gelatinous encasement. VersaWrap Tendon Protector is indicated for tendons and surrounding tissues such as ligaments and skeletal muscles. VersaWrap Nerve Protector is indicated for peripheral nerves. Our innovative technology allows tissues to glide and to remain untethered, thereby reducing reoperations and improving patient outcomes.

SOURCE Alafair Biosciences, Inc.