CEO & Co-Founder
Happiness isn’t found in your success or number of accolades.
It’s built from within centered around Faith and the desire to do good in this world. To leave this world better than you found it.
Sometimes, our desires do not align with God’s plan for us.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
In high school, I never imagined I could earn a college degree.
Fast forward ten years: three degrees, 30+ honors/awards, founding a company, and yet none of that brings me joy.
What does? My Faith. My wife. My family. My brotherhood. And the vision that this company will make a real difference in the world.
Here is my story.
My Beginnings
I was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, in a semi-large family as the middle child of five.
From an early age, I knew the northern winters weren’t meant for me. Mother nature sealed it in 2015, when a historic cold wave hit Chicago. Just a week later, I was blessed with an opportunity that changed everything: admission to the University of Florida (UF) for my undergraduate degree. Sunshine, beaches, and palm trees felt right. Little did I know, I was going straight to The Swamp.
University of Florida (UF) (2015-2019)
At the UF, I earned my bachelor’s degree in food science, joined the cheerleading team, studied abroad in both India and Italy, and met my beautiful wife. To this day, I have no idea how I got in, but I believe someone in that admissions office read my essay, stood up, and said, “Give this kid a chance.” With that opportunity, I made a promise: I would prove that hard work, resilience, and faith can transform a life. It was the first glimpse of how one bold decision could ripple through everything that followed, even my wardrobe (orange and blue runs deep).
University of Georgia (UGA) (2019-2025)
To my SEC fans, this may seem sacrilegious. Let me explain!
Fast forward to the University of Georgia (UGA), another leap of faith. A single phone call led to an interview, one I had to have my then-girlfriend-now-wife drive me all the way to Georgia for because I didn’t have a car. That interview led to my Master’s program, which unexpectedly led to something groundbreaking: jellyfish collagen research.
Then, when the pandemic hit, I spent countless hours uncovering the untapped potential of jellyfish, a moment that defined everything that followed. We filed patents, published research, and I made the decision to stay for my PhD. Along the way, I earned the prestigious USDA NIFA AFRI Predoctoral Fellowship, a highly competitive grant that supported our exploration of jellyfish collagen research and ultimately launched JellyCoUSA.
JellyCo (2025-Present)
Now, I’m in Tampa with my wife and our wiener dog, Paisley, focusing on scaling JellyCo, creating partnerships, and executing a vision that will positively impact Coastal Georgia and the jellyfish industry.
I have faced countless failures, some that could have kept me stuck, but instead, I chose to learn from them, allowing each challenge to shape me into a stronger, wiser man. Growth is never a straight path, and every battle has reinforced a life lesson: Even the smallest decision can create massive change.
Faith and resilience create extraordinary lives. I continue to pray for my UF and UGA families, my communities, this beautiful country, and all those striving toward their purpose. Believe you can do it, and you will. When your heart is in the right place, all else will follow.
The Jellyman is just getting started. May God Bless you all.
Sincerely,
Peter. G. Chiarelli, Ph.D. (Jellyman)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
