Gulf Spore
Vendor
Gulf Spore is a veteran-owned, woman-owned small business proudly manufacturing premium liquid mushroom supplements in Lutz, Florida.
Founded by Dr. Brandi Brown, a bioengineer and former U.S. Air Force officer, Gulf Spore was created with one simple mission: make functional mushrooms easy to incorporate into everyday life without powders, pills, or earthy-tasting drinks.
Our signature liquid extracts, including Lion's Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Turkey Tail, are crafted from whole mushrooms using advanced soundwave-assisted extraction technology. Every batch contains just a few simple ingredients, is third-party tested for quality, and is designed to mix seamlessly into coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, or water without changing the flavor.
Since launching, Gulf Spore has earned national recognition for its innovation, including a prestigious U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award for mushroom biotechnology research and recognition as one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100: America's Top 100 Small Businesses.
Originally founded in Mississippi, Gulf Spore recently expanded and relocated its manufacturing operations to Lutz, Florida, where every bottle is proudly produced by our team to be sold directly at markets and events in our community. We also ship our mushroom supplements nation-wide via our ecommerce, from Hawaii to Maine. As a local business, we're excited to become part of the Tampa Bay community and connect directly with our neighbors through local markets and events.
Whether you're looking to support focus, everyday energy, immune health, or relaxation, our goal is simple: provide clean, transparent, science-driven mushroom supplements you can trust, backed by quality you can see in every batch.
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Dr. Brandi Brown
Dr. Brandi Brown is the Founder and CEO of Gulf Spore, a biotechnology company dedicated to making functional mushrooms more accessible while developing innovative mushroom-based technologies to address global challenges like food waste.
A biological engineer by training, Dr. Brown earned her bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology before commissioning as an officer in the United States Air Force, where she served in military intelligence. She later earned her Ph.D. in Biological Engineering from the University of Nebraska, specializing in bioprocess engineering and microbial biotechnology, with research focused on developing sustainable biomaterials from microorganisms.
Driven by a passion for combining science with entrepreneurship, Dr. Brown founded Gulf Spore to raise the standard for functional mushroom products through transparency, quality, and innovation. Under her leadership, the company developed premium liquid mushroom extracts manufactured using advanced soundwave-assisted extraction technology and has expanded into biotechnology research focused on natural food preservation.
Her work has received national recognition, including a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award, often referred to as "America's Seed Fund," to advance Gulf Spore's MyDip™ technology for reducing food waste.
Gulf Spore has also been recognized as one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100: America's Top 100 Small Businesses, honoring the company's innovation, community impact, and entrepreneurial excellence.
Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Brown has earned multiple competitive honors, including victories in the Mississippi Made Pitch Competition and The Pitch business competition. She has also received grant funding through the Farmer Veteran Coalition and the Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant, and completed the National Science Foundation I-Corps commercialization program and Mississippi State University's VentureCatalyst Startup Accelerator.
In recognition of her professional achievements and leadership, Dr. Brown was named to the Georgia Tech Alumni Association's 2025 40 Under 40, celebrating alumni who are making extraordinary contributions to their industries and communities before the age of 40.
Today, Dr. Brown leads Gulf Spore from Lutz, Florida, where the company proudly manufactures its products and continues its mission of combining rigorous science, radical transparency, and practical innovation to improve everyday health and build a more sustainable future.
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