Education is a key component of our business model, and we love sharing free information so women can explore their own personalised health management, from exercise to nutrition.
Biohacking’s everywhere right now, think Netflix’s latest docuseries with billionaire Bryan Johnson tracking his every heartbeat. But while wealthy guys with fancy gadgets soak up the spotlight, Azra Alagic is carving out a lane for women like her- women told to just deal with migraines that pinned her to bed or fatigue that dulled her days. Sick of dead-end doctor visits, she dug into biohacking herself.
One fasting tweak later, she woke up clear-headed for the first time in years and knew she had to share it. That’s how Biohack-her was born. This week on Founder’s Playbook, we’re diving into how she turned her health fight into a mission to help women live longer and better.
From patient to pioneer
Azra’s journey into biohacking started with frustration and a deep need for change. She wasn’t satisfied with being told to just live with it.. “When I started biohacking, the space was dominated by great men like Dave Asprey and Ben Greenfield, but there weren’t many women in this space. I knew that female biology would require a different approach to biohacking, so I founded Biohackher to share my biohacking journey and help other women live well longer through personalised biohacking plans and tailored products.”
She didn’t want a quick fix. She wanted to understand what was really going on in her body—and fix it from the inside out. “I was also frustrated by conventional medicine that failed me during my own health battles. I wanted more than a script for pills that would mask my symptoms. I wanted to understand the root cause of why I was unwell and take control of my own health so I could continue to thrive and live a full life. Biohacking changed my life. I went from suffering from severe migraines, bloating, mercury toxicity, brain fog and chronic inflammation to be symptom free — all by implementing biohacks tailored for my unique biology.”
Starting small, thinking big
I made the choice to build a community and share my story first, before I offered any services or products.
Instead of launching straight into selling things, Azra started by sharing her story and building a community. She wanted to create something that truly spoke to women like her. “My vision for Biohack-her was always clear in my mind — create a brand that will help women like me to live well longer. A start-up is always a risk but when you’re passionate about what you do and have a worthwhile cause it doesn’t even feel like work.”
“I made the choice to build a community and share my story first, before I offered any services or products. Strategically, this enabled me to later leverage off a loyal following who then also supported the launch of my first product — Good Gut Granola — and my health coaching services.” And from the start, she wanted to make it clear that Biohackher was different. “I also focused on being clear about what my point of difference is. Biohackher was founded by a woman for women. Our mission is to create a community of well-informed women and provide longevity products and services that are bespoke for women.”
Bringing Biohacking to Australia
Biohacking is still new to many people in Australia, especially when it comes to products built around it. But Azra believes there’s a lot of potential—and she’s already making waves. “Offering whole food products with ingredients chosen specifically for their science-backed ability to support longevity and wellness is innovative in the food industry. We continue to research ingredients, attend longevity conferences, and partner with other longevity specialists to stay at the forefront of the market so that our biohacking plans and products can nurture healthy aging.”
And while she sells products, Azra is just as focused on giving people tools and knowledge to take control of their health. “Education is a key component of our business model, and we love sharing free information so women can explore their own personalised health management, from exercise to nutrition.”
The hard parts no one talks about
Like any startup, Biohackher hasn’t had a smooth ride. There have been plenty of roadblocks—from factory issues to days where everything feels overwhelming. “Where do I start! There are always challenges with a startup, from funding through to manufacturing. Our suite of foundation products continues to be developed, largely due to manufacturing partners who have failed us at the end of a drawn-out process, forcing us to have to go back to the drawing board and start again.” But Azra has learned to keep going, even when things don’t go as planned. “Are we where I thought we would be at this time? No, but that’s okay. Resilience and belief in my vision has been a key mindset for me to push through the hard times.”
“But then there’s the imposter syndrome that sneaks up on you, especially on those tough days when you’re juggling customer orders, meetings, and product development. I have to regularly tell that doubting voice in my head to make a cup of tea, chill, and get out of my way so that I can continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”
What success really looks like
I’ve always said there’s no such word as ‘can’t’ only ‘how can I?
For Azra, success isn’t a straight path or a final destination. It’s a mindset—and something that keeps changing as she grows. “Success is an interesting word. When you’re an entrepreneur there’s no finish line, only key milestone achievements to celebrate before quickly refocusing on the next goal. I believe success can be measured in many ways and is fluid. It comes in ebbs and flows. To be successful you need to have grit, determination, belief (even when the voice in your head tells you to give up), resilience, and flexibility.”
And when everything feels too hard, she has a simple trick. “I’ve always said there’s no such word as ‘can’t’ — only ‘how can I?’. So, when things get tough, take a breath, go for a walk on the grass outside and come back to the issue with fresh eyes. Often what you thought was impossible is achievable — it might just be via a different path than you first thought.” “Be prepared to pivot and meet evolving demands. And find people that believe in your vision and dream as much as you do. Success is achieved with kindred spirits. People who can help you shine and clear the way for you to fulfill that dream.”
Azra’s Key Lessons for Founders:
- Learn to be the admin chick and the CEO
- Ask for help when you need it
- Know when to take a break so stress doesn’t block your creativity
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