KitChem was founded by Carolina Vazquez Mitchell, MS and Benjamin Mitchell, JD. Carolina is an internationally known chemist, food scientist, and pharmacologist who has created products for some of the world’s largest CPG companies and Ben is a multi time entrepreneur.
Along with her husband and partner, Ben, Carolina was the founder of Ciencia Labs. Ciencia Labs was a portfolio of cannabis CPG brands and products headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Carolina and Ben scaled Ciencia Labs into a cash flow positive and nationally known company with coverage in media like Rolling Stone, Cheddar TV, and Univision. 4 years after founding, Ciencia Labs was acquired by The Cannabist Company (formerly Columbia Care).
When they aren’t making products, Carolina and Ben foster and rescue kittens and enjoy traveling throughout the US and Mexico.
Carolina is a chemist, food scientist, and pharmacologist with 20 years of R&D experience in chemistry, pharmacology, food technology, and cannabis industry. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Carolina came to the United States in 2010 to work as a researcher in Chemistry at the University of Southern California. During her PhD studies at USC, Carolina’s publications on CRISPR were reviewed by a Nobel Prize winning chemist and her additional research focused on spin-labeling RNA.
After leaving her PhD program, Carolina started KitChem with her husband Benjamin Mitchell, JD. She has a deep understanding of goods chemistry (including food, supplements, and cosmetics), formulation, molecular composition and molecular nutritive value, human metabolism, cGMP, HACCP, and FDA/USDA regulations. Carolina has developed food products for some of the largest food companies in the world, numerous cosmetics formulations, and has developed 100s of products currently in the market. Carolina has brought ideas from concept to commercialization for a company with 7000+ restaurants worldwide and developed products for one of the top five cereal companies in the USA and the most prominent sports drinks brand in the world.
A gifted academic well-versed in developing regulatory standards of the food, cosmetics, and cannabis industries, Carolina’s areas of specialty include organic chemistry and biochemistry research, laboratory testing and operations, good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices, quality assurance, and R&D for cannabis products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, and beverages. She has 20 years of experience with organic synthesis and extractions and has extracted DNA, RNA, proteins, terpenes, and other pharmacologically active molecules.
Carolina was also the Founder and Chief Scientist of Ciencia Labs, a Los Angeles-based cannabis product manufacturer and house of brands with science-backed products developed for sleep, pain, anxiety, and fun. In February 2024, Ciencia Labs was acquired by The Cannabist Company (formerly Columbia Care), one of the 10 largest cannabis companies in the world.
As Chief Scientist, Carolina oversaw the development, improvement, manufacturing and overall compliance of products and ensures that any company continues to lead the fledgling market in product innovation while upholding the highest standards of compliance and food safety. She was also responsible for guiding all lab testing, food safety, quality control, packaging, and adherence to the law around cannabis products within the state of California while continuing to spearhead development around new products.
She has been featured as a subject matter expert in magazines such as Dope, MG, Forbes, Golden State, MiTu, Rolling Stone, Yahoo, Benzinga, and on Cheddar TV.
Diplomas and Certifications
• PhD Student, CHEMISTRY (2013-2017) at the University of Southern California
• MS, CHEMISTRY at the University of Southern California
• BS, CHEMISTRY and PHARMACOBIOLOGY at University of Guadalajara
• AS, INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY at the University of Guadalajara
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual for Food and Beverages (FSMA)
Publications and Presentations
• Publication: CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated DNA Unwinding Detected Using Site-Directed Spin Labeling April 2017, ACS Chemical Biology
• Publication: Nucleic-acid Dependent Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9 Revealed by Site-Directed Spin Labeling. March 2016, Cell• Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Publication: Nucleic Acid Structure and Dynamics: Perspectives from Site-Directed Spin Labeling. July 2015, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
• Presentation: Site-Directed Spin Labeling Studies of Nucleic Acid Dependent
• Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9. Biophysical Society annual meeting, Los Angeles, CA
• Short Course: Cannabis-Infused Edibles: Challenges and Solutions (Institute of Food Technologists Headquarters, Chicago)
• Symposium: Cannabis Edibles: Addressing the Challenges of a Global Trend (IFT 2019 Expo)
• Symposium: PMCA’s Cannabis in Confections and Snacks Science Symposium.
• Panel: Building a Transparent Cannabusiness: Ensuring Product Quality and Safety (San Jose, CA)
Carolina Vazquez Mitchell is the founder and CEO of KitChem.
Carolina is a chemist, food scientist, and pharmacologist with 20 years of R&D experience in chemistry, pharmacology, food technology, and cannabis industry. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Carolina came to the United States in 2010 to work as a researcher in Chemistry at the University of Southern California. During her PhD studies at USC, Carolina’s publications on CRISPR were reviewed by a Nobel Prize winning chemist and her additional research focused on spin-labeling RNA.
After leaving her PhD program, Carolina started KitChem with her husband Ben. She has a deep understanding of goods chemistry (including food, supplements, and cosmetics), formulation, molecular composition and molecular nutritive value, human metabolism, cGMP, HACCP, and FDA/USDA regulations. Carolina has developed food products for some of the largest food companies in the world, numerous cosmetics formulations, and has developed 100s of products currently in the market.
A gifted academic well-versed in developing regulatory standards of the food, cosmetics, and cannabis industries, Carolina’s areas of specialty include organic chemistry and biochemistry research, laboratory testing and operations, good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices, quality assurance, and R&D for cannabis products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, and beverages. She has 20 years of experience with organic synthesis and extractions and has extracted DNA, RNA, proteins, terpenes, and other pharmacologically active molecules.
Carolina is also the Founder and Chief Scientist of Ciencia Labs, a Los Angeles-based cannabis product manufacturer and house of brands with science-backed products developed for sleep, pain, anxiety, and fun. As Chief Scientist, Carolina oversees the development, improvement, manufacturing and overall compliance of products and ensures that any company continues to lead the fledgling market in product innovation while upholding the highest standards of compliance and food safety. Her current role includes guiding all lab testing, food safety, quality control, packaging, and adherence to the law around cannabis products within the state of California while continuing to spearhead development around new products.
Before starting her own firm, she was the Head of Research for Power Brands, America’s leading beverage consultancy firm. During her tenure, she led projects for a broad spectrum of companies, nurtured a concept to commercialization for a company with 7000+ restaurants worldwide, and developed products for one of the top five cereal companies in the USA and the most prominent sports drinks brand in the world. She has been featured as a subject matter expert in magazines such as Dope, MG, Forbes, Golden State, MiTu, Rolling Stone, Yahoo, Benzinga, and on Cheddar TV.
Diplomas and Certifications
• PhD Student, CHEMISTRY (2013-2017) at the University of Southern California
• MS, CHEMISTRY at the University of Southern California
• BS, CHEMISTRY and PHARMACOBIOLOGY at University of Guadalajara
• AS, INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY at the University of Guadalajara
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual for Food and Beverages (FSMA)
Publications and Presentations
• Publication: CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated DNA Unwinding Detected Using Site-Directed Spin Labeling April 2017, ACS Chemical Biology
• Publication: Nucleic-acid Dependent Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9 Revealed by Site-Directed Spin Labeling. March 2016, Cell • Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Publication: Nucleic Acid Structure and Dynamics: Perspectives from Site-Directed Spin Labeling. July 2015, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
• Presentation: Site-Directed Spin Labeling Studies of Nucleic Acid Dependent
• Conformational Changes in CRISPR-Cas9. Biophysical Society annual meeting, Los Angeles, CA
• Short Course: Cannabis-Infused Edibles: Challenges and Solutions (Institute of Food Technologists Headquarters, Chicago)
• Symposium: Cannabis Edibles: Addressing the Challenges of a Global Trend (IFT 2019 Expo)
• Symposium: PMCA’s Cannabis in Confections and Snacks Science Symposium.
• Panel: Building a Transparent Cannabusiness: Ensuring Product Quality and Safety (San Jose, CA)
Benjamin Mitchell, JD is Co-Founder of KitChem.
He was also the Founder and CEO of Ciencia Labs, a Los Angeles-based cannabis product manufacturer and house of brands with science-backed products developed for sleep, pain, anxiety, and fun. In February 2024, Ciencia Labs was acquired by The Cannabist Company (formerly Columbia Care), one of the 10 largest cannabis companies in the world.
Before founding KitChem and Ciencia Labs with Carolina, Benjamin was the Head of Sales for Sine, a SAAS software company acquired by Honeywell. Previous to that he founded businesses in the music and entertainment industries serving clients like Fox, NBC, and Steve Aoki.
Diplomas and Certifications
JD, LAW at Capital University Law School
BA, POLITICAL SCIENCE at The Ohio State University