Caribbean Ingredient Innovates Health, Skincare, and Performance Recovery Solutions in Tampa Bay

SprainGo of Hillsborough County

Caleb Williams, founder of SprainGo, is on the verge of transforming the health, skincare, and performance recovery industries with a revolutionary ingredient sourced from Trinidad and Tobago, PRE. The therapeutic benefits of PRE were first discovered in the late 1800s by his grandmother, Mother Skinner, a renowned Community Healer in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. Now emerging from R&D, PRE offers natural solutions for acute and chronic pain, skin calming for conditions, like eczema, and accelerated performance recovery for athletes and active individuals. SprainGo is preparing to introduce its products into the global market by 2025, targeting those in need of effective relief.

After witnessing his son’s overnight ankle recovery with the application of his grandmother’s remedy, Williams realized that this discovery needed to be developed and shared with the world. “As a former Division I collegiate soccer player who endured multiple ankle sprains, it was incredible to witness an overnight recovery,” Williams said.

“The first thing I did was google the prevalence of ankle sprains treated. The numbers were staggering, around ten million treated annually by medical professionals, with another estimated ten million opting for self-management. I realized there was a sizable market with no solution,” he added.

In his previous role as a Citibank Director, Williams connected with the Florida SBDC at USF to request a heat map of regulatory data for U.S. and international markets, which then led to a flourishing relationship. “While I lacked regulatory knowledge, I knew the SBDC consultants would have expertise in that area. The market data they provided was instrumental in building the business case for SprainGo,” Williams said. Now to bring this groundbreaking product to market, Williams has turned to the Florida SBDC at USF once again for business support and guidance.

Working with business consultant Christine Jaros and others, Williams has received critical assistance on investor pitch decks, grant information, and funding opportunities.

Currently based in the technology incubator within the USF CONNECT building, Williams and his Florida SBDC at USF consultants meet regularly to ensure the business is on a successful path. When asked about his biggest success so far, Williams replied, “In 2019, a team of researchers from the Department of Chemistry here at USF isolated and identified the most active fraction in PRE as a new plant-derived anti-inflammatory drug discovery, the first credited to a Black-owned company in U.S. history. In addition, we were thrilled when our first patent for PRE was awarded in September 2023. Being recognized for that drug discovery is certainly a pinnacle moment for us,” he said with a smile.

SprainGo’s objectives moving forward include the commercialization of products powered by PRE, as well as the development of an ingestible ‘Crown Jewel’ nature-based composition for licensing.

As the business continues to grow Williams is excited about the future and the pivotal role the Florida SBDC at USF will continue to play. “We’re transitioning from R&D to preparing for commercialization, and Chrissy has been hearing from me regularly over the past few months. Moving forward, we’ll need to raise funds to develop the “Crown Jewel,” file patents, launch our brands, collaborate with influencers, and secure strategic corporate partnerships,” Williams explained.

Williams goes on to explain how PRE offers multifunctional health benefits beyond sports recovery, including acute and chronic pain relief, along with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antihistamine, anti-itch, and antimicrobial properties, as confirmed by research studies. “USF researchers have also demonstrated PRE’s ability to inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells, and it has been shown to readily cross the Blood-Brain Barrier, making it a promising drug lead for Traumatic Brain Injuries,” Williams said.

“With such broad applications, we believe PRE will surpass Curcumin (2022 market value of $80B) as the most sought-after botanical in history, particularly given its unique human performance benefits,” Caleb Williams said. “So, as we now move into this next phase, I’m absolutely going to be calling on and depending on expertise from the SBDC at USF in some of those areas that I mentioned,” Williams added.

As a business owner himself, Williams offered the following advice to fellow entrepreneurs: “One way for small businesses to grow and achieve success is by focusing on what you do well and bringing in experts for the areas where you lack mastery. That’s how you build a strong team. The SBDC at USF offers expertise in areas like marketing, international business, funding, and legal matters—essential resources that small businesses need to be successful. And the best part is, there’s no cost for their consultancy. In my opinion, you absolutely have to utilize these resources,” Williams concluded.