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§ Private Profile · New York City, NY, USA
Sports nutrition company offering customizable protein, pre-workout, and hydration formulas based on user physiology and fitness goals.
Gainful has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Gainful.
Gainful was founded in 2017 by Jahaan Ansari (Founder/CTO).
Gainful has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Based in New York, New York, Gainful is a direct-to-consumer sports nutrition company that provides personalized protein powders, pre-workout blends, and hydration formulas tailored to individual physiological profiles and specific fitness goals. The company operates on a subscription e-commerce model starting at $45 per month, utilizing a proprietary assessment quiz and in-house registered dietitians to formulate supplements free from artificial additives. Operating with a core team of 25 to 30 employees, the business has processed over 850,000 orders and administered more than three million personalization quizzes to its consumer base. The enterprise has raised over $17 million in Series A venture capital funding from institutional investors including Y Combinator, Dorm Room Fund, Courtside VC, AF Ventures, and BrandProject. Gainful was officially founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Eric Ji Sun Wu and Jahaan Ansari.
Key people at Gainful.
Gainful has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series A in January 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2021 | $8M Series A | Courtside Ventures, BrandProject | Advancit Capital, Susa Ventures, AF Ventures, Barrel Ventures, Round13 Capital | Announced |
Gainful was founded in 2017 by Jahaan Ansari (Founder/CTO).
Gainful has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Gainful's investors include Courtside Ventures, BrandProject, Advancit Capital, Susa Ventures, AccelFoods, Barrel Ventures, Round13 Capital.
Gainful is a personalized performance nutrition company that builds customized supplements such as protein powders, hydration packs, pre-workout formulas, and performance boosts (collagen, creatine, fiber) tailored to individual dietary preferences, fitness goals, and lifestyles. It serves active individuals, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes who seek science-backed, personalized nutrition plans rather than generic products. Gainful combines product customization with ongoing one-on-one support from registered dietitians, empowering customers to optimize their health and performance. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum since its founding in 2017, becoming a recognized brand in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) nutrition space[1][2][3][4].
Founded in 2017 by Jahaan Ansari (Founder/CTO) and others, Gainful emerged from the recognition that generic sports nutrition products often fail to meet individual needs. The idea was to create a system where customers complete a detailed quiz about their body, goals, diet, and lifestyle, enabling Gainful to formulate personalized supplements. Early traction came from its unique approach combining technology-driven personalization with expert dietitian support, which differentiated it in the crowded supplement market. The company is based in New York and has evolved to include a broad product line and a strong customer-centric model[1][2][6].
Gainful rides the growing trend of personalized health and wellness, leveraging digital technology to disrupt the traditional one-size-fits-all supplement market. The timing is favorable due to increasing consumer demand for tailored health solutions, advances in data analytics, and a shift toward preventive and performance-focused nutrition. Gainful’s model exemplifies how technology and expert human support can combine to elevate consumer health outcomes. Its success influences the broader ecosystem by setting new standards for personalization and customer engagement in nutrition, encouraging innovation among competitors and startups in the health tech and DTC nutrition sectors[3][6].
Going forward, Gainful is poised to expand beyond sports nutrition into broader personalized nutrition domains, exploring new product categories and use cases. Trends such as increased consumer health awareness, advances in personalized medicine, and integration of digital health tools will shape its journey. Gainful’s influence is likely to grow as it continues to democratize access to personalized nutrition, potentially becoming a leader in the evolving health and wellness landscape. Its commitment to personalization and expert support positions it well to capitalize on the expanding market for tailored health solutions[6].
