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Female Leadership and Innovation: The Role of Martina Vakarelova and Francesca Zanoni
Female Leadership, two researchers, a shared vision, and a technology that is redefining entire industrial sectors.
This is how Sphera Encapsulation was born and continues to grow—the first Italian company entirely dedicated to encapsulation technologies.
Female Leadership: When Research Becomes Female Entrepreneurship
There is a precise moment when a scientific discovery stops existing only in the lab and begins to transform the market.
For Sphera Encapsulation, that moment has a date—2016—and two names: Martina Vakarelova and Francesca Zanoni.
Their story is not about pursuing entrepreneurial success for its own sake.
It is the story of two scientists who, during their PhDs at the University of Verona, recognized that encapsulation research could be more than an academic project—it could become a concrete solution to real needs in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.
This convergence between scientific rigor and entrepreneurial spirit is what makes Sphera Encapsulation a remarkable example of female leadership in Italian technological innovation.
Martina Vakarelova and Francesca Zanoni: Two Paths, One Direction
Martina Vakarelova’s background lies in the microencapsulation of microalgae extracts for the development of functional foods—a cutting-edge field requiring expertise across biology, chemistry, and process engineering.
From the early stages of her PhD in 2014, she actively participated in international workshops and conferences, building a vision that extended far beyond individual laboratory applications.
Francesca Zanoni, co-founder of Sphera Encapsulation, brings her expertise in the nanoencapsulation of carotenoids and lipophilic compounds—molecules notoriously difficult to handle due to their poor water solubility.
Her research results led her to further develop a proprietary nanoencapsulation technology for lipophilic ingredients, which is now at the core of the company’s offering.
Two different trajectories converging on a shared belief: encapsulation technologies could—and should—move beyond academia to become accessible, scalable, and sustainable industrial tools.
Sphera Encapsulation: From Innovative Startup to Industry Reference
With the support of the University of Verona, Sphera Encapsulation was officially founded as an innovative startup in 2016.
From the beginning, the mission was clear: not just to conduct encapsulation research, but to translate it into concrete, customized services for companies.
In less than a decade, Sphera has become the first Italian company fully focused on encapsulation technologies, serving clients well beyond national borders.
This achievement is no coincidence, but the direct result of female leadership capable of combining strategic vision, deep technical expertise, and strong market awareness.
Sphera’s Encapsulation Technologies: Protection, Stability, Performance
Sphera Encapsulation operates with one of the most comprehensive technology portfolios in the sector.
Its encapsulation technologies are designed to protect active ingredients, isolate their properties, improve dispersion, and enhance bioavailability—always tailored to the client’s specific needs.
- Spray drying — for stable, scalable microencapsulated powders
- Coacervation — for controlled-release systems with polymeric membranes
- Fluid bed processing — for coating solid particles
- Spray chilling — ideal for heat-sensitive compounds
- Ionotropic gelation — for biocompatible hydrogel formation
- Nanoencapsulation — to enhance the bioavailability of lipophilic compounds
Each technology is carefully selected and calibrated based on the molecule, application sector, and desired shelf-life and release profile.
SpherAQ: Flagship Technology for Lipophilic Compounds
Among Sphera’s most representative innovations is SpherAQ, an internally developed technology that addresses one of the most common challenges in the ingredient industry: making lipophilic molecules—such as oils and carotenoids—water-soluble and highly bioavailable.
Encapsulates produced with SpherAQ are:
- Fully water-dispersible, ready to use without added flavors or excipients
- 100% natural, formulated with naturally derived materials
- Effective in masking unpleasant tastes and odors
- Protected from oxygen, light, and temperature, significantly extending shelf life
- Highly versatile, suitable for a wide range of lipophilic molecules
SpherAQ is not just a product—it is concrete proof that female-led innovation delivers measurable, patentable, and industrially scalable results.
Sustainability as a Core Value, Not a Trend
At Sphera Encapsulation, environmental responsibility is a structural priority.
Production relies exclusively on 100% biodegradable materials, a choice that reflects the core values on which Martina Vakarelova and Francesca Zanoni built the company from day one.
For companies integrating encapsulation technologies, this translates into scalable, sustainable, and certifiable solutions—fully aligned with even the most stringent ESG policies.
Bring Encapsulation Technologies into Your Production Process
Sphera Encapsulation offers fully customized encapsulation services, supporting each project from concept and prototyping to final product development.
Whether in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic sectors, the team is able to develop tailored solutions for every specific need.
If you are looking for a reliable technological partner in encapsulation, you can fill out the contact form on our website to request a personalized consultation.
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