For AnnMarie Kocher, co-founder and president of Humann, heart health isn’t just a professional mission — it’s personal history, family legacy, and scientific purpose fused together.
The Austin-based functional nutrition company she built alongside her husband, Joel, has become one of the country’s most trusted names in circulatory and cardiovascular support. But its roots reach back to unlikely beginnings: a childhood shaped by immigrant grit, homegrown produce, and the simple act of boiling beets.
Kocher grew up in a low-income, first-generation household where food came from the garden, not the grocery store. Her family fished for protein, harvested citrus from the backyard, and used whatever they had to nourish themselves.
“My mom boiled beets not because of any known health benefit, but because they were affordable,” she said. “That beet water became my version of Gatorade during my tennis tournaments. I didn’t understand the science at the time, but it gave me energy and stamina.”
Today, that memory reads like an early blueprint for what Humann would eventually become: functional nutrition grounded in real food and measurable impact.
The company’s defining moment came years later when Joel attended an investor event and learned about nitric oxide — a tiny, essential molecule tied to blood flow and cardiovascular function. The science sparked a fire that the couple couldn’t ignore.
“We realized we had the opportunity to crack the code on something much larger,” Kocher said. “Cardiovascular health affects everyone, and we wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Since then, Humann has built its reputation on a promise that’s harder to keep than it sounds: uncompromising ingredient integrity. While many supplement companies rely on inexpensive blends or underdosed formulas, Humann insists on clinically meaningful quantities and premium components. It’s a commitment that has only grown stronger as the company has grown.
“What good are these products if they are not effective?” Kocher said. “As we continue to scale, refusing to compromise on quality is non-negotiable.”
That commitment extends far beyond the label. Clinical research shapes every product from conception to launch, guided by a Science Advisory Board and a chief cardiologist who ensures each formula aligns with current data and medical insight. Multiple peer-reviewed studies and university partnerships support the brand’s flagship innovations, including SuperBeets and newer daily cardiovascular products.
“Most supplement companies don’t invest in clinical trials,” Kocher said. “If we’re developing products that support cardiovascular health, we have a responsibility to make sure they’re based on credible science.”
Inside the company, culture moves at the same pace as innovation. Humann is built on three pillars — growth, adaptability, and humanity — with adaptability serving as the engine.
Hypergrowth, Kocher acknowledges, isn’t for everyone. But the right team can turn rapid evolution into momentum.
“Hiring the right people is everything,” she said. “Change isn’t just expected here — it’s constant.”
Even as Humann expands its product categories and introduces new cardiovascular, cholesterol, and metabolic offerings, it remains anchored in Austin, a city Kocher credits for believing in the mission early.
“Austin had a deep commitment to functional wellness long before it was mainstream,” she said. “This city was ahead of its time, and we’re proud to have grown up here.”
As readers step into a new year of wellness goals, Kocher wants them to think differently about heart health. Cardiovascular care, she notes, isn’t just for later in life. “By the time most people feel a problem, it’s already developed,” she said. “Healthy circulation, balanced cholesterol, and endurance impact your energy and overall wellness now.”
The message is simple: start early, start small, and put heart health at the top of the list, especially for those who tend to put themselves last.
“Cardiovascular health affects everyone, and we wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives.”