ZBiotics
ZBiotics is a San Francisco biotech company that designs genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis probiotics — Pre-Alcohol (engineered to break down acetaldehyde) and Sugar-to-Fiber (engineered to convert dietary sugar into levan fiber) — and sells them via D2C e-commerce, premium grocery, beverage retail, and US hospitality F&B partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ZBiotics does
ZBiotics is a San Francisco-based biotechnology company founded in 2016 by Dr. Zack Abbott (CEO) and Stephen Lamb (COO), operating as the first company to bring genetically engineered probiotics to consumer market. Its proprietary platform engineers Bacillus subtilis — a naturally endospore-forming bacterium commonly present in fermented foods — to produce specific functional enzymes when ingested. The company's two commercial products are Pre-Alcohol (engineered strain ZB183, producing acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to break down a toxic alcohol byproduct in the gut) and Sugar-to-Fiber (engineered strain ZB423, producing levansucrase to convert dietary sucrose into levan prebiotic fiber). Pre-Alcohol was launched in 2019 and Sugar-to-Fiber in September 2024, with Pre-Alcohol having reached 10 million bottles sold cumulatively by December 2025.
ZBiotics operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and omnichannel retail model. D2C sales flow through zbiotics.com with subscription plans offering 20% savings on Pre-Alcohol and 25% on Sugar-to-Fiber, configurable to delivery cadences between 4 and 12 weeks. Physical retail distribution covers premium grocery (Erewhon, Foxtrot, Pop Up Grocer) and national beverage retailers (Total Wine, BevMo). In 2025-2026 the company expanded into US hospitality, placing Pre-Alcohol in restaurant and bar F&B programs across seven major US markets and into resort venues including Gurney's Montauk (summer 2026) and The Snow Lodge Aspen (winter 2025-2026). The company also entered a strategic partnership with DrinkAde in March 2025 and acquired gut-health assets from January AI in September 2025 to extend its microbiome research capabilities.
The business has raised approximately $17.2 million in disclosed funding across seed and venture rounds (Y Combinator in 2018, $2.8M Babel Ventures seed in 2018, $2.3M Oyster Ventures in 2020, $12M Series A led by Spring Tide Capital in August 2024). The core technology is protected by US Patent 10,849,938 B2 covering the ZB183 composition, with the patent portfolio expanded internationally and to cover Sugar-to-Fiber. ZBiotics' primary customer segments are social drinkers (ages 25-45) for Pre-Alcohol and gut-health-conscious consumers for Sugar-to-Fiber, supplemented by hospitality F&B partners.
ZBiotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZBiotics
- Legal name
- ZBiotics Company
- Website
- https://zbiotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ZBiotics is a San Francisco biotech company that designs genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis probiotics — Pre-Alcohol (engineered to break down acetaldehyde) and Sugar-to-Fiber (engineered to convert dietary sugar into levan fiber) — and sells them via D2C e-commerce, premium grocery, beverage retail, and US hospitality F&B partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZBiotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Probiotic Beverages
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refrigerated Probiotics & Functional Shots (CRADACAN), Probiotic & Live-Culture Beverage Production (Shots, Tonics) (AFAFAHAE), Probiotics (Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Components) (AFAJAKAE)
Keywords
Where ZBiotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ZBiotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Pre-Alcohol: ZBiotics sells Pre-Alcohol probiotic drink directly to consumers through its e-commerce storefront. Products are available in 3-pack ($36), 6-pack, 12-pack, 50-pack, and 100-pack formats. Subscription model offers 20% savings with configurable delivery intervals (every 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 weeks).
- Direct-to-Consumer Sugar-to-Fiber: Sugar-to-Fiber is sold as a monthly supply of 30 stick packs ($80 one-time, $60 with subscription) in Maple and Unflavored variants. Subscription model provides 25% savings with deliveries every 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 weeks.
- B2B/Hospitality Wholesale: ZBiotics supplies Pre-Alcohol to restaurant, bar, and resort partners (hospitality sector), and to retail grocery and specialty stores. No minimum order requirements for retail partners. Wholesale pricing tiers exist for bulk orders (50-pack, 100-pack).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-Alcohol 3-pack — entry-level consumer purchase |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pre-Alcohol Subscription — recurring consumer |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sugar-to-Fiber one-time purchase |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sugar-to-Fiber subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
ZBiotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZBiotics develops and sells genetically engineered probiotic beverages built on proprietary Bacillus subtilis strains that produce targeted enzymes in the gut. Its two commercial products are Pre-Alcohol, a drink containing engineered ZB183™ bacteria that break down acetaldehyde (a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism) to reduce hangover symptoms, and Sugar-to-Fiber, a drink mix containing engineered ZB423™ bacteria that convert dietary sucrose into levan prebiotic fiber. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via zbiotics.com with subscription options, through retail partners such as Erewhon, Total Wine, and BevMo, and through hospitality F&B venues.
Product overview
ZBiotics is a biotechnology company that has created the world's first genetically engineered probiotics, built on a proprietary platform using Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains. The company's product portfolio consists of two core genetically engineered probiotic products: Pre-Alcohol, a drink designed to break down acetaldehyde (a toxic alcohol byproduct) to mitigate hangovers; and Sugar-to-Fiber, a drink mix that converts dietary sugar into beneficial prebiotic fiber (levan) for gut health. Both products leverage different patented probiotic strains (ZB183(tm) and ZB423(tm)) engineered using genetic engineering techniques to produce specific enzymes that perform targeted functions in the gut.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink A probiotic drink containing the patented genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis ZB183™ strain that produces acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the gut to break down acetaldehyde, the toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Designed for adult social drinkers seeking to reduce next-day hangover symptoms. Sold in 3-pack, 6-pack, 12-pack, 50-pack, and 100-pack formats with a subscription option providing 20% savings.
- Sugar-to-Fiber Probiotic Drink Mix A genetically engineered probiotic drink mix containing patented Bacillus subtilis ZB423™ that produces levansucrase to convert dietary sucrose into levan prebiotic fiber inside the gut, supporting microbiome health and addressing fiber insufficiency in modern diets. Available in Maple and Unflavored stick pack formats; sold as a 30-pack for $80 one-time or $60 on subscription (25% savings). Currently only available in the USA.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 million bottles of Pre-Alcohol sold since 2019 launch
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ZBiotics
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ZBiotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ZBiotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater SpaflagshipZBiotics partnered with Gurney's Montauk Resort as the official summer pre-alcohol partner. The product is integrated into the resort's in-room minibars, Dune Lounge & Café, and seasonal Firepit Music Series events. A curated overnight experience was co-hosted with Dale Moss on July 16, targeting wellness-minded athletes and cultural figures to position the product within premium hospitality settings.
- Restaurant/BAR F&B Partners (multiple)coreZBiotics expanded into US hospitality through strategic F&B partnerships featuring Pre-Alcohol in restaurant and bar beverage programs across seven major markets (New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles). Named partner venues include The Alston, Boia De, COTE Korean Steakhouse, Hestia, Miller & Lux, The Morris, Pasjoli, and Stoa Wine Bar. Venues reported genuine consumer curiosity and strong sales signals.
- The Snow Lodge & Après Ski ClubflagshipPartnership for Winter 2025-2026 season in Aspen and Snowmass to promote ZBiotics' Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink at the venues. Launch scheduled December 20, 2025 with expanded availability through March 29, 2026. Product aims to help consumers enjoy alcohol responsibly and support next-morning readiness.
- January AIminorZBiotics acquired gut-health assets from January AI in September 2025. The acquisition combines ZBiotics' engineered probiotic capabilities with January AI's microbiome research to advance next-generation probiotic solutions in the United States.
- DrinkAdecoreStrategic partnership between ZBiotics and DrinkAde announced in March 2025, per market research report. Both are notable players in the anti-hangover supplement market. The partnership was noted as a recent development alongside DrinkAde's airline supply contract (May 2025).
- Beacon GroupminorBeacon Group is a key supply chain partner for ZBiotics, providing job training and employment opportunities to people with disabilities. One of the largest employers of people with disabilities in Arizona, serving more than 2,200 people with disabilities each year. Reflects ZBiotics' commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its supply chain.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ZBiotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Athletic Greens (AG1): AG1 is a daily foundational nutrition drink positioned at the intersection of probiotics, vitamins, and gut health. It is comparable to ZBiotics as a premium D2C supplement brand with subscription-led GTM, broad earned media presence, and emphasis on science-driven positioning.
- Seed Health: Seed Health is a venture-backed probiotics company developing next-generation microbial therapies, including a daily synbiotic and an investigational probiotic for IBS. It is comparable to ZBiotics in its science-forward, biotech-rooted approach to consumer probiotics and its emphasis on strain-level innovation.
- Pendulum Therapeutics: Pendulum sells medical-grade, Akkermansia-based probiotics targeting glucose control and gut health. It is comparable to ZBiotics in its biotech origins, use of proprietary bacterial strains, and focus on condition-specific functional benefits beyond generic probiotic claims.
- DrinkAde: DrinkAde is a direct competitor in the anti-hangover supplement category with an airline supply contract. It is comparable to ZBiotics in its hangover-cure positioning, recent strategic partnership activity, and category overlap as noted in market research.
- HUM Nutrition: HUM Nutrition is a DTC wellness supplement brand offering beauty, gut, and beauty-from-within supplements with subscription options. It is comparable to ZBiotics as a science-marketed, design-forward DTC supplement brand with subscription economics and a focus on the wellness-conscious female consumer.
Broad incumbents
- Culturelle: Culturelle is an established mass-market probiotic brand (owned by i-Health) with strong retail penetration in digestive health. It is comparable to ZBiotics as a probiotic brand competing for the same end consumer, but operates at a much larger scale and without the engineered-probiotic differentiation.
- Bio-K+: Bio-K+ is a Canadian probiotic drink brand offering drinkable fermented probiotic products in retail and foodservice. It is comparable to ZBiotics in the drinkable probiotic beverage format and retail/foodservice distribution strategy, but uses traditional fermentation rather than genetic engineering.
Regional players
- Health-Ade Kombucha: Health-Ade is a leading US kombucha brand offering functional fermented beverages with gut-health positioning, available in mainstream grocery. It is comparable to ZBiotics in the functional beverage category, premium grocery placement, and D2C + retail distribution mix, though it uses traditional fermentation rather than engineered strains.
Emerging players
- Olipop: Olipop is a fast-growing functional soda brand marketed for gut health with prebiotic fiber. It is comparable to ZBiotics in its premium positioning, strong D2C and retail presence, and the intersection of gut-health science with mainstream consumer beverages.
- Eligo Bioscience: Eligo Bioscience is a synthetic biology company developing engineered phage-based microbiome therapeutics. It is comparable to ZBiotics in its use of engineered biology for targeted gut applications, though it operates further upstream in the therapeutics pipeline rather than consumer supplements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ZBiotics social profiles
Digital presenceZBiotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZBiotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ZBiotics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ZBiotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZBiotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZBiotics
What does ZBiotics do?
ZBiotics develops and sells genetically engineered probiotic beverages built on proprietary Bacillus subtilis strains that produce targeted enzymes in the gut. Its two commercial products are Pre-Alcohol, a drink containing engineered ZB183™ bacteria that break down acetaldehyde (a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism) to reduce hangover symptoms, and Sugar-to-Fiber, a drink mix containing engineered ZB423™ bacteria that convert dietary sucrose into levan prebiotic fiber. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via zbiotics.com with subscription options, through retail partners such as Erewhon, Total Wine, and BevMo, and through hospitality F&B venues.
Is ZBiotics a public or private company?
ZBiotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ZBiotics founded?
ZBiotics was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ZBiotics based?
ZBiotics is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does ZBiotics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Pre-Alcohol is the primary driver. The others are direct-to-Consumer Sugar-to-Fiber and B2B/Hospitality Wholesale.
Who are ZBiotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Athletic Greens (AG1), Seed Health, Pendulum Therapeutics, DrinkAde and HUM Nutrition. Broad incumbents are Culturelle and Bio-K+. Health-Ade Kombucha is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Olipop and Eligo Bioscience.
Does ZBiotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZBiotics.
What industry is ZBiotics in?
ZBiotics's product category is Functional Probiotic Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAGAF, Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements, with a secondary code of CRADACAN, Refrigerated Probiotics & Functional Shots. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.