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Functional Nutrition
Overview
Functional nutrition is an emerging area within the broader health and wellness industry that emphasizes using dietary practices and nutritional interventions to prevent, manage, and treat chronic diseases and improve overall health. This approach also aligns with and adopts "Food as Medicine" principles, recognizing the therapeutic properties of food. Its personalized and holistic approach to health and wellness goes beyond simply managing symptoms or treating specific diseases; instead, it addresses the root causes of health issues by considering an individual's unique biochemistry, lifestyle factors, environmental influences, and overall well-being. This approach recognizes that each individual has distinct nutritional needs and that one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations are often inadequate for optimal health.
Unlike traditional nutrition, which primarily emphasizes the basic sustenance provided by foods, functional nutrition prioritizes the therapeutic potential of specific nutrients and bioactive compounds. It also focuses on personalizing dietary plans based on genetics, biomarkers, lifestyle, and health history to address chronic diseases and prevent potential diseases. In addition to the individual's diet, their stress levels, sleep patterns, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors are also considered to enhance overall wellness.
The industry's nutrition-focused approach to wellness has garnered interest not just from those with health conditions but also from generally health-conscious individuals looking to maintain healthier lifestyles.
Note: Additional sections (such as market sizing, detailed overview, and incumbents) can be provided on request
Market Mapping
The Functional Nutrition industry is composed of players that offer nutritional interventions to prevent, manage, and treat chronic diseases and improve overall health. These include startups that offer nutrition management platforms, nutrition-based chronic care, supplements and nutraceuticals, personalized food service platforms, and telenutrition platforms.
Nutrition-based chronic care platforms accounted for most of the industry’s funding (42%) as of March 2024, with around USD 629 million raised. This was followed by the supplements and nutraceuticals industry segment, which raised around USD 530 million as of the same date, also accounting for ~42% of the industry’s funding.
Large-scale nutrition providers such as Nestlé and Kraft Heinz, along with traditional technology companies such as Whirlpool, are some of the major incumbents active in the space, with the former group providing supplements and nutrition management platforms, respectively.
Nutrition management platforms
Nutrition-based chronic care
Supplements and nutraceuticals
Personalized food service platforms
Telenutrition platforms
The Disruptors
A majority of disruptors in the space (~57%) were founded after 2017, and most of them currently tend to be at early and seed stages. The disruptors in this space also tend to provide cross-service offerings between most segments. However, providers of personalized food service platforms tend to exclusively focus on this business vertical.
None of the disruptors tracked in the space are publicly listed; however, the space does have some large players–based on total funding raised. These include companies such as Foodsmart, Viome, and Zoe, which (as of September 2024) have raised USD 315 million, USD 276 million, and USD 104 million, respectively.
Funding History
Competitive Analysis
Notable Investors
