Michael Polansky, the fiancé of musician Lady Gaga, has co-founded a startup called Outer Biosciences that utilizes human skin tissue for cosmetic research. The company aims to develop advanced cosmetic products by studying the effects of various mechanisms and molecules on skin health.
Outer Biosciences, established in 2022 by Polansky, Kyung-Jin Jang, Chris Hinojosa, and Stanley King, sources "full-thickness" skin from plastic surgeries. This tissue is kept viable for up to a month to facilitate research that might not be possible with conventional human or animal studies. The company has secured $23 million in funding from prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firms. Lady Gaga herself is a member of the company's board of directors.
Polansky, a 42-year-old entrepreneur and Harvard graduate, discussed the venture in an interview with TechCrunch. He also commented on his partnership with Lady Gaga, noting her business acumen. Lady Gaga launched her own successful skincare-infused makeup line, Haus Labs, in 2019.
Polansky, who became engaged to Lady Gaga in 2024, previously assisted in managing her worldwide tours, describing the operation as akin to a "200-person startup that travels around the world every day." The couple is believed to reside in Marin County, California.