Helping families thrive with microbiome insights.
By Cheryl Sew Hoy
Growing up in Malaysia, I dreamed of running a company and making a difference. My biggest inspiration was my mom. She ran her own marketing business from home, and watching her lead with confidence and purpose made me want to follow in her footsteps.
That dream stayed with me as I earned my engineering degrees from Cornell University on full scholarships, launched my first startup, and sold it to Walmart Labs in 2013. But as fulfilling as those achievements were, it wasn’t until I became a mom that I discovered my true passion.
Motherhood Sparked a Mission
In 2018, I watched my little girl, Charlie, wrestle with eczema, restless nights, and food sensitivities. Her itchy skin, dietary triggers, and constant sleep disruptions took some joy out of those first few months of motherhood. During my pregnancy, I learned I might need a C-section and researched how it could affect my baby. Compared to vaginal birth, I knew that babies born this way might be exposed to more antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
One research paper on the gut microbiome led me to another, each reinforcing its crucial role in immunity – especially during the critical first 1,000 days.
I also stumbled upon an alarming statistic: nearly half of U.S. children suffer from at least one chronic health condition. That number kept me up at night, but it was very motivating. When searching, I realized microbiome tests on the market didn’t offer reference ranges for kids under 3 years old. Most stool tests use qPCR technology, which provides a limited picture of your gut. I wanted a test that used shotgun metagenomics – the gold standard in microbiome research – to see if my baby and I had the right microbes to support lifelong immune health.
A week after my son, Taylor, was born in 2020, I started Tiny Health to create an evidence-based microbiome testing platform for babies in their first 1,000 days.
After two years of research with Ruben Mars from the Mayo Clinic and a team of microbiologists and pediatric experts, we launched the first at-home gut health test for babies and moms. Since 2022, we’ve expanded to serve the whole family with tests for all life stages.
Finding Our Home in Austin
As Tiny Health grew, so did my family’s needs. After nearly a decade in California, my husband, Jason, and I realized it was time for a change. While Silicon Valley was a great place to be, the high cost of living and rising crime rates weren’t ideal for raising a family.
Austin offered everything we were looking for – a lower cost of living, more land for our growing family, and an outdoorsy environment. We spend our weekends hiking trails and caring for our backyard chickens, creating memories as we prepare to welcome our third child.
On the business side, Austin’s thriving tech ecosystem was a perfect match. The tech community here is smaller but incredibly collaborative and approachable. I was surprised by the number of healthcare and biotech companies here. With many wellness influencers moving here and a central time zone for our remote team, it’s the perfect spot for Tiny Health’s HQ.
Our team recently spent five fantastic days at a ranch in Dripping Springs near Austin for our annual offsite.
Growth and Gratitude
In addition to empowering families to address the root causes of issues like eczema, allergies, and other chronic conditions, we developed our B2B platform, Powered by Tiny. We now partner with over 1,000 health practitioners and digital health companies, and continue to grow. In 2 and a half years, more than 55,000 people have trusted Tiny Health with their microbiome health.
Two things stand out throughout my journey: growth comes from following my curiosity, and gratitude keeps me present in the small moments. Every step forward has started with a question I couldn’t ignore. And gratitude helps me appreciate all the mentors, investors, family members and teammates who have helped me come this far personally and professionally.
During meetings, we take time to share what we’re grateful for – a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate each other. At home, we do a hug huddle where I ask the kids to count to 20. Sometimes they rush, sometimes they stretch it out, but it’s always filled with laughter and joy. With them growing so fast, it’s a simple way to slow down and appreciate this time in our lives.
Finding my home has been more than where I live or work. It’s building a life that reflects what matters most. Austin and Tiny Health have given me a place to grow, give back, and make a lasting impact.