If you suffer from frequent digestive issues or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you’ll want to hear about bellie, a new beverage uniquely designed for people with sensitive digestion. The innovative drink was co-founded by ASB alumna Catalina Castaneda Fernandez ‘20 and has quickly gained attention in the health and wellness world.

Catalina’s journey to launching bellie began while she was a student at the University of Chicago, where her passion for science and entrepreneurship truly flourished. With a background in physics and economics, she participated in the University of Chicago’s College New Venture Challenge, a competitive program that helped the bellie team secure significant funding.

Catalina and Oliver Drazsky - her longtime friend - first developed the idea for bellie over lunch. During the meal, they lamented the lack of IBS-friendly beverages on the market, which sparked their interest in creating a solution. Drawing on her scientific background and his research of the microbiome, having battled IBS for seven years, Catalina and Oliver teamed up to make bellie a reality. Together, they began experimenting with gut-healthy ingredients from their kitchens, including a super-prebiotic that research shows can significantly improve IBS symptoms. The beverage is now sold online and in 10 health stores across Chicago, with plans to expand into larger regional markets.

Now working full-time on bellie, alongside interns supported by university funding, Catalina is excited about the future of bellie, which she describes as part of the booming gut-health drink market, alongside products like kombucha and stomach friendly sodas.

Catalina’s passion for science, sparked during her time at ASB, continues to guide her. She fondly remembers her HSl years, studying chemistry with Mr. Whitehair and Mr. Smith, and physics with Mr. Bartlett. “My passion for science was cultivated at ASB and carried on at university,” she notes. “Now, I’m commercializing that knowledge into a product that helps people with IBS.”

We’re excited to see what’s next for Catalina and bellie! Stay tuned for her return to ASB this December!