Wonderbelly plans to raise Series A as early as Q4

- Kimberly Chin, author ofAxios Pro: Retail Deals

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Wonderbelly, which markets itself as a healthy-for-you antacid alternative to Tums, is planning a Series A as it plots more retail rollouts, CEO Noah Kraft tells Axios.
Why it matters: Over-the-counter products have drawn interest from consumer product goods companies, early-stage investors, biotech firms and large retailers.
Details: Wonderbelly expects to raise capital in the fourth quarter or early first quarter of next year, Kraft says.
- He declined to disclose how much the Austin, Texas-based company will raise.
- In the meantime, Wonderbelly is spending the next six months pouring over customer data and feedback from retail partners, including Target, Thrive Market and Grove Collaborative.
- For instance, the company discovered a core demographic in pregnant women, who tend to experience heartburn and other digestive issues and are looking for cleaner alternatives, Kraft says.
- The FDA-approved over-the-counter drug has talc-free ingredients and uses sustainable, aluminum packaging to house it.
By the numbers: Wonderbelly is on track to generate about $5 million to $7 million in revenue this year, and expects to surpass $25 million in sales by 2024, Kraft says.
Driving the news: Target has made a push to expand its OTC health and wellness offerings, adding Wonderbelly alongside products like the vitamin brand Care/of, the feminine care brand Proof and the gummies supplement Sugarbreak to its aisles.
What they’re saying: Kraft says much of the movement toward "cleaner" OTC products is driven by consumers.
What’s next: The company hopes to expand its products into other areas of gut health and position them as alternatives to brands like Pepto Bismol, GasAid and Lactaid.
Catch up fast: Wonderbelly has raised more than $5 million from Brand Project, Slow, AF Ventures and Sweet Leaf Tea founder Clayton Christopher.
- The company also counts actress Demi Moore and singer Meghan Trainor as its investors.
State of play: The OTC wellness space has seen a handful of significant, strategic-driven deals.
- German pharmaceutical company Bayer acquired a majority stake in Care/of in 2020, valuing the business at $225 million.
- Nestlé acquired vitamin subscription startup Persona in 2019.
- A year later, Nestlé snapped up vitamin startup Vital Proteins via its Nestlé Health Science subsidiary.
- Meanwhile, VC-backed supplement brands Gainful and Ritual have both found success in Target stores, Axios has reported.