Cynthia Hunefeld

When sepsis left Cynthia Hunefeld’s father permanently disabled, she refused to accept there was not a better answer. She became determined to better understand inflammation and whether nature could offer a more effective way to manage it. Years later, the first prototype of her bioactivated ginger concentrate helped save his life, turning years of research into the foundation of a biotechnology company.

Drawing on more than 15 years of scientific inquiry, Cynthia founded Evithé to develop plant-based ingredients backed by rigorous research. Using a proprietary process that enhances the natural compounds found in plants, the company has developed Carelwon®, an ingredient designed to address chronic inflammation. From the outset, Cynthia chose to invest in clinical validation before commercialisation, completing a Phase 1 clinical trial and securing patents across 53 countries to support the company’s long-term growth.

Building the business demanded persistence as much as scientific expertise. Cynthia sold her car to fund her first patent, left a secure career, balanced further study with raising a young family and self-funded much of the early research. Working with limited resources, she progressed Evithé with a fraction of the capital often associated with biotechnology ventures. The company’s first commercial production run sold out within three days without advertising, creating early momentum as it entered domestic and international markets.

Today, Cynthia continues to lead the science, intellectual property strategy and commercial direction of Evithé. Her focus remains on building the evidence needed to support wider adoption of plant-based biotechnology, while demonstrating that globally relevant health innovation can be developed and commercialised from New Zealand.