The Func. Lab has raised $1.5 million in seed funding to grow its clean-label nutrition business. The round brings together a strong group of strategic investors from consumer brands, healthcare, fitness, retail and sports.

The Mumbai-based wellness startup was founded in 2025 by celebrity fitness trainer and SOHFIT founder Sohrab Khushrushahi, entrepreneur Sahil Kukreja, and SOHFIT co-founder Daneesh Davar. The company launched in July 2025 and is building products around hydration, protein and functional wellness.

This funding is important because India’s nutrition market is becoming more serious. Consumers are no longer impressed by loud claims alone. They are reading labels, checking ingredients, comparing protein quality, and asking whether a product is actually useful for daily life.

What The Func. Lab does

The Func. Lab works in the clean-label nutrition space. Clean-label simply means products made with clearer, easier-to-understand ingredients and fewer unnecessary additives. The company’s current portfolio includes Salty Electrolytes, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate and Plant Protein. These are everyday wellness products aimed at people who work out, play sports, travel often, sweat a lot, or want to improve their protein intake.

For example, someone who goes for a long run may use electrolytes to replace salts lost through sweat. A gym beginner may use whey protein to meet daily protein needs. A person who does not consume dairy may prefer plant protein.

The Func. Lab is trying to make these products feel less confusing and more trustworthy.

Who invested in the round

According to ETRetail, The Func. Lab’s $1.5 million seed round came from several strategic investors. The investor list includes Nisaba Godrej, executive chairperson of Godrej Consumer Products; Anand Piramal, executive director of Piramal Group; Abhishek Nayar, former Indian cricketer and coach; Bhakti Modi, co-founder of Tira; Harsh Parekh, co-founder of PharmEasy; and Sahil Vora, founder of Sila Group.

This mix is interesting. The investors are not only financial backers. They bring experience from consumer goods, healthcare, beauty retail, fitness, real estate and sports. For a nutrition brand, such a network can help in product thinking, retail access, brand building and distribution.

How the startup will use the money

The company plans to use the fresh capital for product innovation, wider distribution, stronger supply chain capabilities and growth across digital, quick commerce and offline retail channels.

In simple words, The Func. Lab wants to make more products, improve how it sources and delivers them, and become easier to find.

Today, many wellness products are discovered online. A customer may first see the brand on Instagram, then order from the company’s website, Amazon, quick commerce apps, or a retail store. For a young brand, being present across these channels can make a big difference.

Quick commerce is especially useful for products like electrolytes and protein. If someone runs out before a workout or needs hydration support during summer, fast delivery can turn into repeat buying.

The startup’s goal and purpose

The main goal of The Func. Lab is to build nutrition products that people can trust. The company is positioning itself around transparency, clean ingredients and effectiveness.

This matters because the wellness market is full of products that sound healthy but may be hard to understand. Some labels use long ingredient lists, artificial sweeteners, fillers, proprietary blends or marketing-heavy claims. A proprietary blend usually means the brand does not clearly disclose the exact amount of every ingredient in the mix.

The Func. Lab says its products are made without gums, emulsifiers, anti-caking agents, artificial sweeteners or proprietary blends. It also says its products are independently tested for quality and label accuracy.

That is a strong positioning if the company can maintain it at scale. In nutrition, trust is built slowly. One good product may bring a customer in, but consistent quality keeps them coming back.

Why clean-label nutrition is gaining attention

India’s wellness habits are changing. More people are exercising, tracking sleep, walking more, joining gyms, running marathons and paying attention to food quality. At the same time, many people still struggle to meet basic nutrition needs.

Protein is a good example. A person may eat three meals a day and still not get enough protein, especially if their diet is heavy on refined carbs and low on dal, paneer, eggs, fish, meat, soy or legumes. Protein powders are not magic, but they can help when used sensibly as part of a balanced diet.

Hydration is another simple but important area. In hot weather, during workouts or after heavy sweating, plain water may not always be enough. Electrolytes can help replace salts like sodium and potassium, depending on the person’s need.

The Func. Lab is trying to serve this practical side of wellness. It is not selling fitness as a luxury idea. It is entering categories that can become part of daily routines.

How The Func. Lab may work as a business

The company appears to follow a modern consumer brand model. It sells through direct-to-consumer channels, e-commerce, quick commerce and offline stores.

Direct-to-consumer helps the brand speak directly with customers and explain its products better. E-commerce helps reach a wider audience. Quick commerce gives speed. Offline retail builds trust because many buyers still like seeing a product in person before trying it.

This multi-channel approach can help The Func. Lab grow beyond a small fitness audience. But it also means the company must manage inventory, delivery, shelf life, pricing and quality carefully.

Competitors in the market

The Func. Lab is entering a busy space. Some of its competitors and comparable brands include Wellbeing Nutrition, OZiva, HealthKart, Fast&Up, MuscleBlaze, Kapiva, The Whole Truth, Yoga Bar and Myprotein.

Each brand has a slightly different angle. Some focus on sports nutrition. Some focus on Ayurveda-led wellness. Some focus on clean snacks. Some focus on women’s health or supplements.

The Func. Lab’s edge may come from its founder-led fitness credibility, clean-label positioning and focus on ingredient transparency. But the market is competitive, and customers will judge the brand by taste, price, results and repeat quality.

Challenges ahead

The biggest challenge for The Func. Lab will be scaling without losing trust. It is easier to maintain quality when volumes are small. As demand grows, the company will need strong manufacturing partners, testing systems and supply chain discipline.

The second challenge is education. Many buyers still do not know the difference between whey isolate, whey concentrate and plant protein. They also may not know when electrolytes are useful and when normal food and water are enough.

The third challenge is pricing. Clean-label products often cost more because better ingredients and testing increase expenses. The company will need to balance quality with affordability.

Conclusion with key takeaways

The Func. Lab’s $1.5 million seed funding shows that investors are paying attention to clean-label nutrition in India. The company has a clear market opportunity, especially as consumers become more careful about protein, hydration and wellness products.

Key takeaways

• The Func. Lab raised $1.5 million in seed funding.
• The startup was founded in 2025 by Sohrab Khushrushahi, Sahil Kukreja and Daneesh Davar.
• Its products include Salty Electrolytes, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate and Plant Protein.
• The company plans to expand product innovation, distribution, supply chain and retail presence.
• Its main focus is clean-label nutrition with transparent ingredients and independent testing.

Facts Input- ETRetail