USV Private Ltd has acquired a 79% stake in direct-to-consumer nutraceutical brand Wellbeing Nutrition for about ₹1,583 crore, in an all-cash transaction that marks one of the largest strategic deals in India’s fast-growing nutraceutical and preventive healthcare sector.
Deal structure and ownership transition
The acquisition gives USV a controlling interest in Nutritionalab Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Wellbeing Nutrition. Shares were purchased from the founder and existing investors, effecting a major ownership change for the five-year-old brand while enabling early backers to realise sizeable returns.
Wellbeing Nutrition: trajectory and product profile
Founded in 2019, Wellbeing Nutrition has built a presence in the D2C health and wellness market with offerings that include multivitamins, collagen supplements, plant-based proteins, omega fatty acids and other evidence-backed nutritional products. The company expanded rapidly through digital channels and modern retail, supported by investments in marketing, product development and supply chain capabilities.
Reported revenue growth over the past two years reflects rising consumer demand for preventive healthcare solutions, particularly among urban, health-conscious buyers with growing disposable incomes.
Investor exits and founder’s role
Institutional investors from earlier funding rounds have monetised holdings at multi-fold returns. Founder Avnish Chhabria has sold a substantial portion of his stake but is expected to remain involved in the company’s leadership, ensuring operational continuity while leveraging USV’s resources and scale.
The structure is positioned as a strategic partnership rather than a full buyout, allowing the brand to retain its entrepreneurial culture even as it integrates with an established pharmaceutical player.
Strategic rationale for USV
USV, long known for strengths in chronic therapies such as diabetes and cardiovascular care, is diversifying into consumer-focused preventive health through this acquisition. The move provides USV with direct access to a younger, digitally native consumer base, established online distribution and a premium wellness positioning.
Industry observers view the deal as part of a wider trend of pharmaceutical companies entering the wellness and nutrition space, driven by greater consumer emphasis on prevention and the blurring boundaries between prescribed treatment and lifestyle nutrition.
Implications for the Indian startup and nutraceutical landscape
The transaction stands out among notable exits in India’s health startup ecosystem and signals heightened strategic interest from established healthcare firms in high-growth D2C wellness brands. As consolidation accelerates, startups that combine credible science, strong branding and scalable go-to-market capabilities are likely to attract strategic investors.
Overall, the USV–Wellbeing Nutrition deal reflects an evolving healthcare market where traditional pharmaceutical expertise is converging with modern preventive wellness offerings to address changing consumer behaviours and long-term growth opportunities.
