Epetōme raises multi‑million to fund clinical trials, expand gut-health exports
This article covers Epetome, a healthtech startup, which has raised a multi-million pound growth funding round led by Active Partners and Redrice Ventures to accelerate international distribution and expand clinical testing of its probiotic and prebiotic products. The funding will support scaling the startup’s international distribution and expanded clinical testing to strengthen evidence for its consumer-focused gut health products and target consumers and stakeholders in the UK healthtech and consumer health sectors.
Epetōme, a healthtech startup founded by nutritionist Emily English in 2023, has raised a multi-million pound growth funding round led by Active Partners and Redrice Ventures to accelerate international distribution and expand clinical testing of its probiotic and prebiotic products. The deal matters because it signals investor appetite for evidence-led consumer health brands that combine clinical validation with direct-to-consumer traction.
Why it matters
The global market for gut health products is crowded, but increasingly driven by consumers seeking scientifically validated options rather than lifestyle claims. Epetōme’s fundraising highlights a trend among investors to back consumer health businesses that prioritise clinical evidence and product efficacy. For the UK healthtech scene, the round also points to continued interest in brands that can translate clinical programmes into scalable consumer propositions and export beyond the UK.
Inside the product
Epetōme develops probiotic and prebiotic supplements positioned for everyday wellbeing. Since launching in 2023 the company has built a consumer community and attracted celebrity supporters, which the founders say has helped validate product-market fit. The new capital is earmarked for expanding global distribution channels and increasing clinical testing across the product range — a move intended to strengthen claims and support entry into regulated markets.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by Active Partners and Redrice Ventures. Active Partners is a long-established investor in consumer brands, while Redrice Ventures focuses on high-potential consumer businesses across media, sport, health and wellness and leverages partnerships such as the Redrice Sports Collective.
Active Partners’ track record includes early investments in consumer names such as Honest Burgers, LEON, Secret Cinema, Soho House, Finisterre, Northern Monk, Healf and Rapha. These examples underline Active Partners’ focus on consumer-facing brands with lifestyle or experience elements; their involvement suggests they see similar scaling potential in Epetōme’s consumer health model.
Redrice Ventures supported the round through its network that includes the Redrice Sports Collective, which brings sport and performance connections into consumer health plays. That network is cited as a channel for product visibility and partnership opportunities.
In the announcement, Billy Fox, investor at Active Partners, said:
Consumers are more informed than ever about their wellbeing and increasingly look for products that deliver clear, science-backed value. Our investment reflects confidence in Emily and her team to meet that demand with an evidence-led product aligned with modern health priorities.
In the announcement, Alistair Brownlee OBE said:
Epetōme represents the next generation of evidence-led gut health, combining science with real-world performance relevance. It’s exactly the kind of business we look to support at Redrice, products grounded in science that genuinely improve people’s lives.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Emily English, co-founder of Epetōme, said:
I truly believe our gut health underpins everything, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved over the past year. This funding marks an exciting next step for Epetōme, and it is only the beginning.
In the announcement, Jimmy Hill, co-founder and executive chair, at Epetōme, said:
The growth of Epetōme over the past 12 months has been incredible to witness. We’re proud to welcome Active Partners and Redrice Ventures as partners as we build the biggest gut health company in the UK. This investment allows us to double down on science, international growth and our team.
The bigger picture
Epetōme’s raise sits at the intersection of two investor themes: consumer brands that scale through community and distribution, and health-focused companies that lean on clinical validation to differentiate. For startups in the gut health and broader healthtech space, that combination can open doors to retailers, international markets and partnerships with performance-focused organisations.
Regulatory scrutiny and the need for robust clinical data remain hurdles for consumer health products, especially when moving from wellbeing claims to demonstrable health outcomes. Increasing investment in clinical testing reflects both investor caution and a pathway to premium positioning.
This deal also illustrates how UK-based consumer health businesses can attract funding from investors who bring distribution, brand-building expertise and sports or performance relationships that help amplify credibility.
The outcome will be worth watching for UK and European healthtech investors and founders as a signal of what kinds of consumer-health models attract backing and scale internationally.
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