Kim Sanchez Rael is CEO and Co-Founder of Azuca, an applied biotechnology company using plant-based food science to precisely control how ingestible cannabinoids are delivered, absorbed, and experienced. Under her leadership, Azuca has become the foundational delivery platform for ingestible cannabinoids, with formulations infusing more than 700 million servings across medical and adult-use markets.
Azuca addresses one of the category’s most persistent challenges: achieving reliable dosing, predictable onset, and consistent bioavailability at commercial scale. Kim has built the company by pairing clinically informed formulation science with manufacturing systems that are repeatable, regulator-ready, and practical to deploy across diverse production environments.
She is a start-up veteran, operating executive, and long-time investor with experience spanning venture capital, early-stage company building, and Fortune 50 leadership. Kim has deep experience operating in regulated environments and served as Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford University and was named to the Inc. “Female Founders 500” and Forbes “50 over 50” lists in 2025.