Custom probiotics company raises $8.65m to scale and globalise

Published: 16-Jul-2020

US-based Sun Gemonics has raised funds for its completely personalised probiotic solutions based on whole-genome sequencing diagnostics

Sun Genomics, the direct-to-consumer custom probiotics and gut health company, announced today $8.65 m in Series A funding.

The round was led by Pangaea Ventures with additional investments from Danone Manifesto Ventures, SOSV, Human Longevity, and Nascita Ventures. Chris Erickson, Founding General Partner at Pangaea Ventures, has joined as a new Board member.

"As we continue to understand the connection between the microbes in our gut and immune system dysfunction, consumers are becoming increasingly interested in their own personal microbiome, seeking solutions to gut-related issues," said Sunny Jain, CEO and founder of Sun Genomics. "We are building the world's largest longitudinal dataset to better understand gut health, allowing us to custom design probiotics for the exact needs of each and every customer."

Sun Genomics is the first to market with completely personalised probiotic solutions based on whole-genome sequencing diagnostics. With the global human microbiome market expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2020, Sun Genomics will use this round of funding to support its growth in the custom probiotics market, scale delivery across the US, enter international markets, and propel the publication of its studies in partnership with leading academic institutions.

Chris Erickson, Founding General Partner of Pangaea Ventures, said: "We value the impact they make on physical health, immunity, and mental health with many more clinically relevant opportunities to come. We are excited to be an investor and look forward to working with the Sun Genomics team to build a world-class company."

Sun Genomics was founded in 2016 with the release of its flagship product Floré, a microbiome test and gut probiotics solution that utilises whole-genome sequencing to evaluate different digestive system data points and ensure that customers receive a completely personalised product that is based on their unique gut profiles. The company also offers Floré Tots, which is available for kids up to age 12 and comes in an easy digestive powder to mix with their favourite drink. Since Sun Genomics' Seed funding in October of 2019, the company has seen consistent growth in headcount and revenue. This additional financing brings the total funding to $11.75 million to date.

"We see Sun Genomics as a leader in bringing personalised probiotics to consumers, blending scientific knowledge of the microbiome with new ways of providing customised health solutions," said Laurent Marcel, CEO of Danone Manifesto Ventures. "Backed by Danone's strong scientific expertise in gut, immunity and microbiome, we are excited to support Sun Genomics into their next stage of growth."

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