Meet Candace Pless | Founder | Biomedical Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candace Pless and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candace, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
MTology Innovations and our lead innovation, EMIT (Ejaculatory Modulation Injectable Technology), began as a capstone project during my undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering. At the time, Roe v. Wade was on the verge of being overturned. It was 2021, and a deep unease was rising in me. Not just as a student of science, but as a single mother.
I kept asking myself: Why is there still no male birth control?
We live in a world where we can edit genes, print organs, and simulate galaxies — but contraception still relies on decades-old methods that disproportionately burden women and people with uteruses. We say we value innovation, but somehow reproductive health has been left behind.
That disconnect lit a fire in me. I wasn’t just curious, I was angry.
Confused, at first. Then frustrated. Then fiercely determined. The truth hit me hard: male contraception wasn’t underdeveloped because it’s unfeasible. It was because it wasn’t prioritized. That realization was my turning point. I didn’t want to complain, I decided I wanted to build.
As a mother, I knew what it meant to carry the weight of reproductive responsibility. I knew how isolating it could be, and I knew I wasn’t alone!
The burden women face isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. Financial. Mental. Relational. And it’s systemic. The options available aren’t just limited, they’re outdated, intrusive, and often harmful! And for men? There’s virtually nothing. Just withdrawal, condoms, or a permanent decision. That’s not freedom. That’s failure.
This business wasn’t born from theory. It was born from urgency.
Humanity is becoming more connected, yet more isolated. We’ve shifted from “we” to “I” to “me” and in doing so, we’ve forgotten how to share the load. We’ve mistaken innovation for convenience, and progress for profit. But real innovation, the kind that heals and uplifts. Is human-centered! It’s emotional, relational, moral!
EMIT isn’t just a product. It’s a symbol of equity!
It’s an answer to the silent frustration millions of people feel. It’s an invitation to men to step into shared responsibility. Not out of obligation, but out of love, partnership, and dignity. It’s a tool for mental health, for family planning, for agency — for both partners. Because the mental toll of unplanned parenthood, the strain on relationships, and the generational ripple effects of inequity in reproductive care, these are not abstract issues. These are deeply human ones.
I chose to turn this into a business, not just a research project, because research alone wouldn’t change the system. Academia often stops at the paper. But I wanted change in the hands of people. In real life. In relationships. In homes. In futures. That kind of change demands a bold and scalable path and that’s entrepreneurship.
People questioned whether I could do this. Whether the world even wanted this.
I didn’t have a big name or millions in funding. What I did have was a deep knowing that this had to exist, and that if I waited for someone else, I might wait forever! So I started. One conversation, one proof of concept, one believer at a time. And slowly, the momentum builds with every achievable milestone that I was told never will happen. Why, because I was never truly alone in this vision. There are thousands of us. Millions! Ready to build something better.
MTology isn’t just my company, it’s a movement.
One that says: We are ready. We are worthy. And we will no longer settle for survival when we were born to thrive!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m the founder of MTology Innovations, where we’re developing a natural, non-hormonal, and reversible male contraceptive called EMIT (Ejaculatory Modulation Injectable Technology). What sets us apart is that we’re not just creating a product, we’re shifting a narrative. For decades, reproductive responsibility has been placed almost entirely on women. MTology is changing that by introducing an option for men that is rooted in science, equity, and dignity.

What excites me most is that this work is bigger than biology, it’s cultural. We’re building something that has the potential to transform relationships, empower families, and change how society understands reproductive responsibility. To me, that’s the real innovation: not just the science, but the cultural shift it creates.

Getting to this point wasn’t easy. I’m an Arizona native who grew up in Cashion, AZ, in a farming community where opportunities were scarce, schools were underfunded, and my family was one of the only Black families in the neighborhood. I experienced minority isolation, financial instability, and environments where crime and limited resources were the norm. Later, when we moved, I became “the poor new kid” in a predominantly white school and bullied, but determined to keep my head down and excel. Creativity became my outlet, and resilience became my foundation.

Those early challenges taught me how to adapt, how to persevere, and how to create something meaningful out of very little. They also taught me that systems don’t always serve us and sometimes you have to build new ones. That lesson carried me into biomedical engineering at ASU, where my capstone project eventually became MTology. But turning a student project into a startup required sacrifice. MTology is 100% bootstrapped right now, which has meant lifestyle changes, long nights, and learning to stretch every dollar. The biggest challenges have been funding and credibility (still a start-up), convincing others that male contraception is not just “nice to have,” but absolutely necessary.

What got me through was integrity and faith. Refusing to cut corners, staying true to the mission, and trusting that every small step forward mattered. Along the way, I’ve learned that success isn’t about speed; it’s about alignment. It’s not just proving the science, it’s earning trust, building coalitions, and centering the dignity of the people we serve.

Professionally, I measure success in milestones that once seemed impossible: securing our first funding award, filing a patent, bringing together improbable allies like scientists, clinicians, and advocates. Each of those wins proved that the improbable is achievable. But the lesson I carry most is that innovation has to be people-centered. It’s not enough to build something that works it has to work for real lives, real families, and real communities.

What I want the world to know about me and MTology is this: we are not just developing a contraceptive, we are building a movement. A movement toward balance, choice, and dignity in reproductive health. A movement that insists men have a role to play, and that families deserve better options. My end goal isn’t just FDA approval or market entry, though those are essential milestones. The real finish line is cultural. It’s when reproductive responsibility is shared, when equity is normalized, and when dignity is non-negotiable.

I hope to be remembered as both a disruptor and a healer. A disruptor, because I wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. A healer, because at the heart of my work is a desire to restore justice, equity, and possibility. And ultimately, I want my children, my community, and future generations to inherit choice and the freedom to thrive on their own terms.

That’s the legacy I’m building. MTology is the vessel, but the vision is reviving humanity itself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1 – Welcome to Phoenix

We’d kick things off with breakfast at Peppersauce Café, an unassuming spot off the I-10 that locals swear by. From there, we’d wander through downtown, maybe stop into the Musical Instrument Museum and grab lunch at their underrated Café Allegro, a foodie secret in plain sight. Dinner would be at Dick’s Hideaway, a cozy New Mexican-style restaurant with no sign out front, you just have to know it’s there.

Day 2 – Scottsdale Eats & Vibes

Scottsdale is full of hidden treasures, so I’d take them to Hush Public House or The Mick Brasserie for bold, seasonal dishes. For a special evening, we’d book a table at Café Monarch, one of the most romantic, intimate dining experiences in Arizona. Afterward, we’d stroll Old Town Scottsdale, not just for the nightlife, but to soak in the mix of desert culture and art.

Day 3 – Desert Adventure

We’d lace up hiking boots and head to the Arizona Hot Spring Trail along the Colorado River. It’s rugged, beautiful, and ends in a natural hot spring tucked away from the world.

Day 4 – Northern Arizona Hidden Treasures

We’d make our way north toward Flagstaff and Winslow. A visit to Rock Art Ranch is a must — it’s a working cattle ranch that doubles as a portal to ancient petroglyphs and ruins. For a quirky stop, I’d take them to Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In on Route 66 in Seligman — part diner, part museum of humor and Americana.

Day 5 – The Vermilion Cliffs & Beyond

We’d spend the day at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument — stunning desert landscapes where condors soar overhead. If my friend’s adventurous, we’d make the trek out to Grand Canyon Caverns or even the eerie Apache Death Cave nearby. This day would be about history, mystery, and wide-open beauty.

Day 6 – Payson & Tonto National Forest

This day would be all about fresh mountain air and hidden wonders. We’d head up to Payson and spend time at Tonto Natural Bridge, the world’s largest natural travertine bridge. It’s a stunning, almost otherworldly sight, tucked inside a canyon where waterfalls and greenery thrive in the middle of the desert. After exploring, we’d drive through the pine forests, breathe in that crisp high-country air, and enjoy the contrast to Phoenix’s desert heat. Dinner would be something simple in town, maybe a local steakhouse or diner, to keep it authentic.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
None of this journey has been mine alone. Every step forward has been made possible by the people, institutions, and inspirations that poured into me when the vision was still just a seed.

First, I have to honor the ASU School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute. This is where MTology was born out of a capstone project and the encouragement of mentors like Dr. Jessica Weaver, PhD, who believed in me when the idea was still fragile. Their guidance and resources gave me the confidence to treat this not just as a project, but as a real, world-changing possibility.

Another critical influence has been Dr. James F. Smith, MD, MS, Director of Male Reproductive Health at UCSF and one of our clinical advisors. His expertise, insight, and willingness to walk alongside me in this work has been invaluable. Having allies who are both deeply skilled and deeply committed to advancing male reproductive health gives this mission stronger legs to stand on.

I also want to thank VentureWell, who gave us our very first funding award. That validation, that someone else saw value and potential in this vision was a turning point. It reminded me that even the boldest, most disruptive ideas can and should be supported.

And most importantly, I dedicate this to my daughter. She is my constant reminder of why this matters. I want her to grow up in a world where choice is not just theoretical, but real where options exist, and dignity is non-negotiable. She represents the future I’m working for, and she keeps me grounded in both love and responsibility.

So this isn’t just my story. It’s a story written by mentors, funders, clinicians, advocates, and loved ones who poured into me and into this mission. MTology exists because of them and it will thrive because of the collective belief that we can, and must, do better.

Website: https://www.mtologyinnovations.com/