Agathe Foussat

Director Research & Innovation

Danone Master Digital Health

Agathe Foussat is Director of Digital Health & Dlab Singapore at Danone Research & Innovation . She built a culture of rapid prototyping, embracing “fail fast, learn faster”, to launch breakthroughs like the patented stool tracker and a noninvasive iron deficiency anemia‑screening digital health program that has reached millions of children. Guided by mentorship from Danone’s senior women leaders, Agathe’s passion for tangible impact has transformed her team into true digital‑health specialists.

 

Can you tell us about your role at Danone R&I and what you enjoy the most about it?

I head Danone’s Digital Lab in Singapore with key expertises on digital health, nutrition, microbiome and data science , where we design and build everything from nutrient‑deficiency screening tools to microbiome‑sequencing services and image‑recognition apps. Our goal is to make invisible health metrics visible, whether it’s spotting growth issues in children or mapping gut flora , and then tailor nutrition accordingly. What I love most is that every project pushes the boundaries of innovation and directly improves people’s health, work I’d happily volunteer for.

 

And what inspired you to pursue a career in the research and innovation field?

I’ve spent my entire career in digital and tech innovation, driven by a passion for solving problems through discovery. R&I lets me channel unlimited energy and time into cutting‑edge projects that can truly change lives. On top of that, being mentored by powerhouse women at Danone has shown me what’s possible and fuels my own ambition.

What opportunities for growth and development have you experienced during your time at Danone R & I?

I’ve been with Danone for about eight years, and the company’s culture of rewarding dedication and results has been phenomenal. I’ve had targeted training, close mentorship, and exposure to diverse challenges. Crucially, I was trusted to prototype, fail, learn, and then succeed, an approach that accelerated both my career and our innovation roadmap.

IN >40countries

Digital health screening and monitoring tools to bring health through food being activated

>2million

Children between 1-6 yrs being screened for IDA via digital health non invasive tools in 2024 

>17M

Health datapoints collected globally to drive awareness via prevalence data as well as driving actions with relevant intervention

Can you describe a moment where you felt particularly proud of your personal or professional growth at Danone?

Personally, I’m proud that Danone supported me through the births of my three children, letting me excel as a mom and as a leader. Professionally, nothing beats seeing our patented stool tracker in action—midwives in Indonesia or moms in Turkey using a tool we built to help support them . And I’m equally proud of watching my team members grow and develop into leaders in the field. 

If you were to give advice to young researchers or students aspiring to enter digital health, what would you say to them?

Pick topics you truly believe in—ones you’d use yourself or recommend to family. Focus on research that can be applied, not just theory, because real‑world impact drives you forward. There are countless global challenges—choose one that resonates, pour your energy into it, and the growth and rewards will follow.

In Danone Digital Health, we are driven by a passion to develop cutting edge technologies and services that not only push boundaries of what’s possible but most importantly that serve a meaningful purpose. We believe in the power of AI and new technologies to make the world healthier, and we are dedicated to making that vision a reality.

Agathe Foussat

Our other experts

x