A Harvard researcher, a longevity doctor and Bar Refaeli are chasing the future of sk

Bar Refaeli is entering the booming longevity industry with a new Israeli startup that aims to transform the anti-aging market by moving beyond traditional skincare products and delivering active ingredients directly into skin cells. Factor X, founded by Refaeli alongside physician Dr. Inbal Gat, Harvard-trained scientist Dr. Shira Orr and entrepreneur Eran Orr, announced its launch after completing a pre-Seed funding round and while raising a Seed round to expand development. The company is estimated to have raised a few million dollars to date. The startup is developing a cellular delivery platform based on longevity science that it says can transport biological signals directly into skin cells. Unlike conventional cosmetics, which largely rely on ingredients designed to penetrate the outer layers of skin, Factor X is attempting to influence cellular processes from within. The company’s technology is based on particles developed by Orr, a researcher with a postdoctoral background from Harvard University, which form the basis of Factor X’s patent. The particles are designed to target specific cells, including fibroblasts, which play a role in producing collagen and other components associated with skin structure. Among the potential applications the company is pursuing are stimulating the production of younger hyaluronic acid in mature skin cells, addressing pigmentation, restoring natural color to graying hair and activating dormant hair follicles. Beyond the science, Factor X is pursuing a business model aimed at partnering with large cosmetics companies rather than building its own manufacturing infrastructure. The company says its particles can be produced as a stable powder that can be added to existing creams, serums and masks without requiring refrigerated storage. The startup is currently at the proof-of-concept stage, with laboratory validation conducted in Boston and plans to establish a research facility in Israel.