In a world increasingly tuned into wellness, The Good Bug is making some serious noise in the gut. The Mumbai-based gut health startup has raised Rs 100 crore (approximately $12 million) in its Series B funding round, led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital — the venture capital arm of global trading giant Susquehanna International Group. Existing backer Fireside Ventures also returned for this round, reaffirming its faith in the brand’s mission to redefine how Indians think about gut health.
Founded in 2022 by Keshav Biyani and Prabhu Karthikeyan, The Good Bug is more than just a wellness brand. It’s on a mission to tackle issues like digestion, immunity, and metabolic disorders at their roots — quite literally — in the gut microbiome. In just two years, the company has built a growing reputation for science-backed probiotic products and is now doubling down on research to drive the next phase of innovation.
“The main deployment of these funds will be towards accelerating innovation in microbiome science and bacterial research,” said co-founder Keshav Biyani. “We’ll continue investing in clinical trials, brand building, and hiring top-tier talent across research, science, and business.”
This latest funding round brings the total capital raised by The Good Bug to around $20 million, including a $4 million Series A extension last year led by Sharrp Ventures, the family office of Marico’s Harsh Mariwala.
Targeting the Gut-Brain-Metabolism Connection
At the heart of The Good Bug’s approach is the belief that gut health is foundational to overall well-being. Their newest product, Metabolically Lean, is a testament to this philosophy. Built as a natural, non-invasive alternative to popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, the formulation boosts GLP-1 levels — a hormone linked to appetite regulation and metabolism — using only natural ingredients.
The product has gained attention for tapping into a growing segment of consumers looking for sustainable, side-effect-free solutions for weight and metabolic management.
What’s Next?
The fresh capital will fuel four key initiatives:
- Advancing R&D in microbiome science and probiotic innovation.
- Expanding clinical trials to validate efficacy and safety across demographics.
- Scaling distribution across digital and retail channels in India and potentially beyond.
- Strengthening brand awareness among both consumers and healthcare professionals.
As global interest in the microbiome continues to soar, The Good Bug seems poised to become India’s homegrown leader in this space. And with consumers becoming more conscious of what’s happening inside their bodies, the startup’s timing couldn’t be better.
