Burnd CEO Malachy Mitchnick Named a "Disruptor" by Authority Magazine

Authority Magazine's ongoing "Meet the Disruptors" series profiles business leaders who are changing the rules of their industries, and the latest installment features none other than Burnd co-founder and CEO Malachy Mitchnick. The full interview is about how a family sunscreen formula became one of the most science-forward sun care brands on the market.

Malachy traces Burnd's roots to his father, Dr. Mark Mitchnick - a pediatrician and the inventor of transparent zinc oxide - who spent years supplying formulation science to major global beauty and skincare brands, yet remained unsatisfied with what was commercially available. The turning point came when Malachy, living in Costa Rica and surfing under intense tropical sun, realized nothing on shelves performed the way his dad's original formula did. When friends started borrowing it and immediately noticed the difference, the decision was clear: this couldn't stay a family secret.

"If you truly solve a problem better than the existing system, then disruption is progress. But if the disruption exists primarily in the story and branding then it's just noise with a very expensive microphone."

On what makes Burnd genuinely disruptive, Malachy is direct: it's the obsessive, singular focus on making the most effective sunscreen on the planet, not the trendiest, not the most heavily marketed. The brand is built on radical transparency, from the testing data they share publicly to the way they openly involve their community in shaping both products and messaging.

The interview also covers Malachy's five ideas for shaking up any industry. He believes founders should respect their customers' intelligence, noting that consumers are often far smarter than most founders and marketing agencies give them credit for. He argues that people are more open to changing their minds than conventional wisdom suggests, and that kindness is often a more effective catalyst for change than confrontation. He emphasizes the importance of conserving cash early to maximize runway, advising entrepreneurs to pay for hard skills rather than abstract problem-solving. He also advocates being generous with equity when it comes to the right co-founder or early employee, believing ownership inspires the level of commitment and effort required to build something meaningful. Finally, he views strong emotional reactions to a brand - even negative ones - as a positive sign, arguing that indifference is far more dangerous than polarization.

Malachy also teases what's next: Burnd is expanding into a minimalist, root-cause skincare system, with new launches planned throughout 2026 to address cleansing, protecting, and restoring skin health.

Whether you're a Burnd customer curious about the people behind the brand or someone building a company of your own, this interview is for you. Read the full feature on Authority Magazine for the unedited story.

Read the full interview →