DAO Labs

What DAO Labs does

DAO Labs is a Minneapolis-based, privately held wellness company founded in 2015 that develops and sells Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulas to U.S. and Canadian consumers through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform (mydaolabs.com, Shopify-powered) and a practitioner wholesale program. Co-founded by John McGarvey with Dr. Eric Karchmer (MD China, PhD, LAc) serving as Chief Chinese Herbal Medicine Officer, the company modernizes classical TCM recipes — such as Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San), Gui Pi Tang, Xiao Yao San, and Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang — into two delivery formats: flavored effervescent herbal powders and capsule/tablet formulas, with all herbs third-party tested in the U.S. and sourced from GAP-certified farms.

The product portfolio spans six herbal powders (Immunity Support, Digestive Harmony, Emotional Balance, Joint Vitality, Mental Tranquility, Cool Slumber), nine classical TCM capsules, seven-plus curated bundles targeting life-stage and seasonal use cases (Women's Monthly Kit, Menopause Bundle, PostPartum Bundle, Cold Season, etc.), and three TCM educational courses (Cycle Sync, Stress & Sleep, IVF Support). Pricing ranges from ~$25–$47 for individual pouches and $34 for capsule jars up to $92–$129 for bundles, with subscribe-and-save options providing 5–10% recurring discounts and free shipping thresholds above $65 USD / $85 CAD.

DAO Labs operates a hybrid go-to-market: DTC e-commerce with subscription retention, virtual consultations with acupuncturists for personalized product selection, content marketing through 'The Way' blog, and a B2B channel serving licensed acupuncturists and TCM practitioners via a wholesale portal. The company has disclosed one funding round of approximately $612,500 in January 2017 and maintains a small team of 11–50 employees. Additional initiatives include a 1%-of-sales donation partnership with WildAid and an active affiliate program.

Name

DAO Labs

Legal name

DAO Labs

Website

https://mydaolabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DAO Labs is a Minneapolis-based wellness company that sells modernized Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas — effervescent powders and capsules based on classical TCM recipes — directly to consumers in the U.S. and Canada via e-commerce and subscriptions, and to licensed acupuncturists via a wholesale program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Herbal Supplements

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRADAGAD

Herbal & Botanical Supplements

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Vitamins, Supplements & Sports Nutrition

SECONDARYCRADAMAD

Cold, Flu, Cough & Allergy Remedies (Decongestants, Antihistamines, Cough Syrups, Lozenges)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Health & Hygiene OTC Consumer Goods (First Aid, Oral Care, Personal Health)

SECONDARYCRADAGAM

Healthy Aging & Cognitive Support Supplements

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Vitamins, Supplements & Sports Nutrition

Keywords

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Herbal Supplements
• Wellness Products
• Effervescent Powders
• Chinese Herbal Formulas

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: DAO Labs generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales via their Shopify e-commerce platform (mydaolabs.com). Customers can purchase individual products or subscribe for recurring deliveries with discount incentives.
2. Practitioner Wholesale: Acupuncturists and TCM practitioners can purchase DAO formulas at wholesale prices to carry in their practices, providing a B2B revenue stream alongside direct consumer sales.
3. Virtual Consultations: The company offers virtual consultations where customers can receive personalized product recommendations from practitioners, potentially driving product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DAO Labs develops and sells proprietary Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas in modernized formats—effervescent drink powders and capsules/tablets—based on classical Chinese formulas used for hundreds to thousands of years. The company sells these wellness products directly to consumers through its Shopify e-commerce platform (mydaolabs.com) and to acupuncturists and TCM practitioners through a wholesale program, supplemented by virtual consultations.

Product overview

DAO Labs is a Traditional Chinese Medicine wellness company offering a comprehensive portfolio of herbal health products organized across multiple formats: Herbal Powders (effervescent drink mixes), Classic Chinese Medicine Formulas (capsules/tablets), Formula Bundles, and Educational Courses. The Herbal Powders line includes six products (Immunity Support, Digestive Harmony, Emotional Balance, Joint Vitality, Mental Tranquility, Cool Slumber) designed for daily wellness rituals with flavored effervescent formats. The Classic Chinese Medicine Formulas line features nine capsule products based on classical TCM formulas (Free & Easy Wanderer, Four Substance, Pure Reishi, Bounce Back, Breathe Clear, Six Ingredient with Rehmannia, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, Tian Ma Gou Teng Wan, Wen Dan Tang). The Bundle line offers curated combinations targeting specific life stages (Women's Monthly Kit, PostPartum Bundle, Menopause Bundle) and wellness needs (Cold Season Bundle, Protect & Recover, Travel & Gather, Long Haul Bundle). The company also offers Practitioner services including Virtual Consultations and wholesale programs for healthcare practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Immunity Support Effervescent herbal powder inspired by Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San), featuring three herbs with pear-ginger flavor, designed to support immune defense during cold and pollen seasons for health-conscious consumers.
• Digestive Harmony Effervescent herbal powder inspired by Bao He Wan (Preserve Harmony Decoction), combining 8 classic Chinese herbs with orange-chai flavor to support immediate and long-term digestive health.
• Emotional Balance Herbal powder inspired by Free & Easy Wanderer (Xiao Yao San), combining 8 herbs with apple-cucumber flavor for stress relief, calmness, and emotional clarity.
• Joint Vitality Herbal powder inspired by Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, combining 14 Chinese herbs with collagen and coconut oil in a spiced cocoa-cinnamon-vanilla flavor to support lower back comfort and joint mobility.
• Mental Tranquility Non-habit forming herbal powder inspired by Return to Spleen (Gui Pi Tang), featuring 12 herbs with blackcherry-spice flavor for quiet minds and peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-habit forming sleep support without the grogginess associated with melatonin or pharmaceutical sleep aids
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• WildAidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAO Labs has committed 1% of sales to WildAid as part of their sustainability initiative. This environmental partnership demonstrates the company's commitment to sustainability beyond their ingredient sourcing practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/daolabs
• Facebookfacebook.com/daolabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dao-labs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DAO Labs