£1.8m seed backs Gutology’s US, German expansion and trials for microbiome-friendly toothpaste
This article covers Gutology, a healthtech startup, which has raised £1.8m in a seed funding round to accelerate international sales, scale clinical research and broaden its oral-care range. The funding is intended to support retail partnerships and expansion into the US and Germany and to advance products aimed at consumers seeking microbiome-friendly personal care.
Gutology, a healthtech startup founded by former radio presenter Ollie Gallant, has raised £1.8m in a seed funding round to accelerate international sales, scale clinical research and broaden its oral-care range. The financing is intended to support retail partnerships and expansion into the US and Germany at a time when consumer interest in microbiome-friendly personal care is rising.
Why it matters
This deal highlights a growing commercialisation of microbiome-aware consumer products. Gutology’s investment underscores how startups that position themselves at the intersection of personal care and gut health can win shelf space with specialist retailers and online marketplaces. For consumers and clinicians alike, the shift away from antiseptic-first oral care towards formulations that aim to preserve microbial balance raises questions about efficacy, regulation and the evidence base — areas the company says it will invest in with this capital.
Inside the product
Gutology launched its first product in 2024 after the founder’s own digestive-health experience and a related podcast, Gutology, which he started with nutritional practitioner Julia Davies in 2019. The company’s Oral Biome+ toothpaste combines hydroxyapatite, a mineral found in tooth enamel, with a formulation it describes as Truebiotic parabiotics. The product is marketed as supporting rather than disrupting the mouth and gut microbiomes.
Commercially, Gutology says Oral Biome+ ranks in the top 10 on Amazon UK and is the best-selling toothpaste at Planet Organic. The business currently employs ten people at its headquarters in Alcester, Warwickshire, and sells direct to consumers online as well as through specialist health stores. The funding is earmarked for retail partnerships, US and German market entry, more clinical studies and an expanded range that could include other healthcare and home-cleaning products; the company expects to create around five new jobs in the coming year.
Who are the investors?
The round is led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, managed by Mercia Ventures, and includes Active Partners plus existing angel investors.
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is a regional fund intended to support businesses across the Midlands with equity and debt solutions. Gutology’s backers have highlighted the company’s brand traction and engaged audience as reasons to support its international push and product development.
In the announcement, Rafael Joseph of Mercia Ventures added:
Consumers are increasingly aware of the link between the gut microbiome and overall health and are actively seeking credible alternative products. Gutology has emerged as a thought leader in this space, building a strong brand that is rapidly gaining traction. We were particularly attracted to the authenticity of their story and the strength of their engaged social media and podcast audience. This funding will help the company accelerate its international expansion and further establish itself as a leader in its category.
In the announcement, Bethan Bannister, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:
We are pleased to be investing in a business like Gutology, which is leveraging its brand to support people with gut health issues in a truly distinctive way. It is encouraging to see the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II backing a company that is addressing a gap in the market and delivering solutions to customers who need them the most. We look forward to working with Ollie and the team and wish them every success as the business grows and expands.
In the announcement, Anna Sweetman of Active Partners added:
We believe Gutology is well-positioned to lead the shift towards personal care products designed to better align with the microbiome, from what we use on our bodies to what we bring into our homes, and we’re excited to support the company as it enters its next phase of growth.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Ollie Gallant, founder of Gutology, said:
For decades, toothpaste has been designed to sterilise the mouth and kill bacteria, but we now know the important role that microorganisms play. This funding enables us to accelerate innovation in oral care while building products that deliver performance and integrate seamlessly into daily routines.
Gallant is a former breakfast host on Touch FM and Capital Radio and launched the Gutology Podcast in 2019 with Julia Davies. He has positioned the brand around a personal narrative and practitioner-backed messaging to reach consumers who are seeking alternatives to conventional oral-care products.
The bigger picture
Gutology’s seed round sits within a broader trend of consumer health brands emphasising the microbiome as a selling point. That trend brings investor interest but also increases scrutiny from clinicians, regulators and retailers seeking robust evidence. For startups in the UK, moving from niche health-store success to mainstream retail and overseas markets often requires both marketing reach and clinical validation.
The deal also illustrates how regional funds and specialist investors are continuing to support consumer health businesses based outside London. Gutology’s planned expansion into the US and Germany will test whether microbiome-focused oral care can scale across different regulatory and retail environments, a useful case study for other UK healthtech startups pursuing international growth.
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