At the intersection of dentistry, bioinformatics, and preventive healthcare, Crown Biome is pioneering new ways to harness the microbiome for better health outcomes. However, Founder & CEO, Bryan Toton, didn’t take the typical path to entrepreneurship. A lifelong dream of becoming an orthodontist led to studies in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Human Biology at NC State. Just before applying to dental school, an idea for a biosensing capsule shifted everything.

The road hasn’t been without challenges, but Bryan reminds us that success starts with the fundamentals: listen to your customers, never give up, and start for the right reasons. True innovation comes from asking the right questions, uncovering what people actually need, and having the persistence to keep moving forward—even after setbacks.

To share more about their journey, vision, and the groundbreaking work underway at Crown Biome, we sat down with Bryan where he shared more about what inspired the company, the challenges of building in this space, and the mentors and experiences that continue to shape his path forward.

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Q1: Could you tell us a little bit about your company?

Crown Biome is a bioinformatics service provider pioneering the integration of dental and medical microbiome technologies. Right now, the company is raising funding to support research on sampling dental plaque to develop two flagship products: SubOral and ImplantSense.

SubOral is an oral-gut microbiome algorithm designed to monitor and prevent chronic inflammation and systemic diseases. ImplantSense focuses on monitoring the health of dental implants, aiming to prevent gum recession, bone loss, and implant failure. Together, these solutions are paving the way for a new era of preventative care rooted in microbiome science.

Q2: What inspired you to start your own company?

I originally set out to become an orthodontist. I shadowed dentists as early as high school and went on to major in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Human Biology at NC State University. Just before applying to dental school, I had an idea for a biosensing capsule that could sit in the intestinal tract. That curiosity led me to pursue a Master’s in Engineering Management, where I began taking entrepreneurial and engineering classes, and learned about the role of the microbiome and the interplay within health.

I started with a biosensor for detecting pathogens in the intestinal tract, which I called Copernicus—after the astronomer who revolutionized how we see the world. I believed this technology could change how we think about food. Later, during a practicum class with a bioinformatics company, I encountered research on dental plaque microbiomes. I couldn’t stop thinking about why no company had developed a diagnostic tool in this area. That realization inspired me to launch Crown Biome.

The vision expanded further when I considered linking bioinformatics across food and human health. Imagine scanning a QR code on meat packaging to access the microbiome profile of the animal—and seeing how it might impact your own health through SubOral. This cross-species bioinformatics connectivity revealed the bigger purpose behind Crown Biome, and, interestingly, it required an IoT network. That’s how I discovered RIoT and joined their accelerator program.

Q3: What previous experiences influence your role today?

My early passion for dentistry gave me the motivation, but my education at NC State broadened my scientific and entrepreneurial foundation. Along the way, I participated in several cohorts, including ICAP (Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program), NSF I-Corps, and the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). These programs were instrumental in refining my business model, mentoring me through customer discovery, and shaping the value propositions behind Crown Biome’s products.

Q4: What are the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a startup founder this far, and how did you overcome them?

In 2023, I actually stepped away from Crown Biome. Funding challenges and lack of support from a partnering bioinformatics company made me question the future of the business. During that time, I was introduced to my mentor—and now advisor—David Burke. He encouraged me to revisit my vision, helped restructure my business plans, and taught me how to communicate effectively with investors.

That mentorship reignited my momentum. Through additional support from the SBTDC, I refined my pitch, joined their Summer Internship cohort, and identified a critical need in dental implant care. This shifted my focus toward building Crown Biome into a portfolio of bioinformatics services rather than a single product. Ultimately, sheer determination, wise counsel, and a deep sense of purpose gave me the resilience to come back stronger than ever.

Q5: Do you have any mentors or role models who have inspired you while you have been building your business?

I’ve been fortunate to be supported by some of the most brilliant minds in dentistry, bioinformatics, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Scott De Rossi, former Dean of UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Dentistry, has been a strategic guide in dental-medical integration.

Dr. Bassam El-Fahmawi, CEO of Mawi DNA, solved a key biosampling vial challenge I faced.

Dr. Nur Hasan, CEO of Arius Bioscience, is both a mentor and strategic partner—his taxonomic database is the most comprehensive in the world.

Dr. William Jackson, a pioneer in teledentistry, introduced me to AI-driven healthcare integration.

Dr. Andre Arnold inspired me to explore wearable sensors and intermodal bioinformatics.

And of course, David Burke, who helped me rebuild and refocus when I nearly gave up.

Additionally, the mentors I met through ICAP, NSF I-Corps, and SBTDC—as well as professors at NC State—have been instrumental in shaping both my business and personal growth.

Q6: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and future startup founders based on your own experiences and lessons learned?

First and foremost: listen to your customers. The “aha” moments that define your value proposition won’t come from guesswork—they come from asking the right questions. Many of my early assumptions were invalidated during customer discovery, and that process ultimately guided me to solve problems that people were actually willing to pay for.

Second: never give up. People that never quit will always win. You might fail multiple times, but persistence is what separates those who eventually succeed. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward and don’t waste time repeating something that you already know doesn’t work.

Third: start for the right reasons. A successful business isn’t built on chasing money—it’s built on solving real problems you feel uniquely called to address. Through all of the tragedy and heartbreak I went through, I was always motivated and believed that I needed to keep pushing and continue pursuing my goals so that one day, I would be able to help those that needed for my products to be successful.

Finally: choose joy and practice gratitude. Gratitude is the best attitude, and it will keep you grounded through the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

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👉 Why it matters: Crown Biome’s work could redefine preventive healthcare by making dental microbiome analysis a critical tool in monitoring systemic health. From preventing implant failure to predicting chronic disease, their innovations are opening a new frontier in bioinformatics.

Stay tuned as this RIoT Accelerator Program participant continues to shape the future of healthcare, one microbiome at a time.