# Neka Lac

> Neka Lac, publicly known as Neka Pasquale, is the founder and chief product officer of Urban Remedy. Trained in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, she turned a small San Rafael kitchen and local delivery service into a nationally distributed organic food company while retaining responsibility for product, creative direction, and the company's founding idea that food can be designed with purpose.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Product Officer at Urban Remedy
- **Organizations:** Urban Remedy, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Master's training in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- **Known for:** Founded Urban Remedy in San Rafael and grew it from a local kitchen operation into an eight-figure organic food and beverage business., Reported 100% annual growth during Urban Remedy's first five years., Expanded distribution to more than 300 Whole Foods Market locations by 2024 and more than 400 by 2026, according to contemporary interviews.

## Career timeline

- **c. 1998-2009** — Ran a private acupuncture practice for more than a decade, later incorporating nutrition and food preparation into her work.
- **2006** — Led her first multi-day retreat, an experience she identifies as the turning point toward Urban Remedy.
- **2009** — Founded Urban Remedy as a local San Rafael food and juice business.
- **c. 2012** — A plan to raise $100,000 for a kitchen led to a $1 million offer from Science Inc.; early funding accelerated expansion.
- **2014** — Raised a further $5 million and recruited Paul Coletta to take over as chief executive, while Lac focused on product and creative direction.
- **2014** — Published Urban Remedy: The 4-Day Home Cleanse Retreat through Weldon Owen, with a foreword by Cindy Crawford.
- **2018** — Urban Remedy became a Certified B Corporation.
- **2021** — Urban Remedy completed an $18 million Series D financing round.
- **2024** — Reported that Urban Remedy had generated $46 million in the prior year and was available in more than 300 Whole Foods Market locations.
- **2026** — Continued as founder and chief product officer, discussing national retail scale and product standards on the Whole Foods Market and Kara Goldin podcasts.

## Achievements

- Founded Urban Remedy in San Rafael and grew it from a local kitchen operation into an eight-figure organic food and beverage business.
- Reported 100% annual growth during Urban Remedy's first five years.
- Expanded distribution to more than 300 Whole Foods Market locations by 2024 and more than 400 by 2026, according to contemporary interviews.
- Led the product vision of a company certified as a B Corporation since February 2018.
- Authored the 176-page book Urban Remedy: The 4-Day Home Cleanse Retreat, published by Weldon Owen in 2014.
- Raised institutional capital while retaining responsibility for Urban Remedy's product standards and creative direction.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Appeared on The Kara Goldin Show as Urban Remedy's founder and chief product officer to discuss scaling fresh food, organic sourcing and protecting the founder's vision.
- **2026-01** — Featured on Whole Foods Market's Beyond the Board podcast, reflecting on the company's first store, short-shelf-life logistics and its branded refrigerated kiosks.
- **2024-03** — Said Urban Remedy had produced $46 million in annual revenue and was on pace for $60 million in 2024 during a Beyond A Million interview.

## Links

- Website: https://urbanremedy.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neka-pasquale-lac-ms-987b0954
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UrbanRemedy
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/J3w1WYroa9I
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nekas_loves/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRemedyUSA/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/neka-lac
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-28