The Kiwi startup turning sheepskin into the future of women’s wellness.
You probably wouldn’t expect the next big breakthrough in women’s health to come from sheepskin. But in Christchurch, biotech start-up Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi (TEO) is harnessing just that – and making waves on the global wellness stage in the process.
Founded by a team of scientists and entrepreneurs, TEO is behind Ovitage, a next-generation edible collagen made from upcycled New Zealand sheepskins – a by-product that would otherwise end up in landfill. Rich in amino acids linked to skin, muscle, gut, and even cognitive health, it’s the super ingredient in TEO’s debut product line: Everee Women.
A collagen supplement with a difference, Everee is designed to support women through key hormonal life stages – from balance in your 30s to perimenopause, post-menopause and beyond. “There’s a lot of noise in the women’s wellness space,” says co-founder and co-CEO Kimberley Bray. “We wanted to create something that’s actually backed by science and that women can trust.”
Ovitage is the result of years of research, with over $1 million invested in product development and support from the likes of Callaghan Innovation and AGMARDT. The collagen itself contains higher levels of key amino acids than traditional bovine or marine collagen, making it more bioavailable and multifunctional, meaning your skin, gut, mood and muscles all benefit.
But it’s not just what’s in the product that matters – it’s how it’s made. Sustainability is baked into TEO’s model, with waste sheep skins sourced from South Island farms and turned into high-value ingredients using a clean, circular extraction process. The result? Fewer emissions, less waste, and more value created for local communities.
Since launching, the company has opened a dedicated manufacturing facility in Christchurch and created over 30 STEM jobs. Everee Women is already gaining traction in New Zealand and abroad, and Ovitage has been shortlisted for a string of innovation awards.
What started as an overlooked by-product is now fuelling one of the most exciting new wellness brands to watch. As Bray puts it: “We’re redefining what women’s health can look like – with better science, more transparency, and a whole lot of heart.”
Shop the Everee Women range at evereewomen.com
