Entrepreneurship

Our team efficiently synthesized the hypoglycemic substance GLP-1 in Escherichia coli through synthetic biology technology, innovatively embedded GLP-1 receptor agonists and natural sugar substitute components into the jelly matrix, and launched the first portable GLP-1 functional jelly - popping boba.

This product not only offers a brand-new non-injectable and non-capsule option for blood sugar management, allowing patients to use it with ease and no burden, but also serves as a daily preventive measure for high-risk groups of diabetes, balancing practicality and convenience.

1. The Chinese sweet beverage market is characterized by a large scale but slowing growth rate. In 2024, the market size of the new-style tea beverage industry in China reached 354.72 billion yuan. It is expected to exceed 400 billion yuan by 2028, with an annual compound growth rate of about 3%. Among them, freshly made tea beverages dominate the market, and the market size is expected to exceed 374.93 billion yuan in 2025, with an annual compound growth rate of over 20% from 2020 to 2024. If the retail tea beverage market and related peripheral and lifestyle retail sectors are included, the total industry scale is expected to reach 6 trillion yuan[5]. However, the health risks associated with a high-sugar diet are becoming increasingly prominent. Surveys show that the prevalence of diabetes among people aged 18 - 29 in China has reached 4.5%, a 300% increase in just 20 years, and the awareness rate of diabetes is only 36.7%. What's more worrying is that milk tea, a favorite among young people, contains as much as 20 - 30 grams of sugar per cup, and some even exceed 50 grams. A survey covering 27 cities shows that 27% of children (aged 4 - 9) drink more than 250 milliliters of sweet beverages every day, and the proportion among teenagers (aged 10 - 17) is as high as 48%. Consumers' demand for healthy alternatives is growing rapidly[6]. A survey on the purchasing behavior of pre-packaged beverages among 10,000 people in Shanghai shows that over 60% of the citizens often buy pre-packaged beverages, nearly 80% of them pay attention to the sugar content information of beverages, and over 50% of them choose sugar-free or low-sugar beverages. Among consumers who choose tea beverages, 70% prefer "sugar-free" options. The sales growth rates of sugar-free tea beverages in the top 10 provinces all exceed 100%, and the growth rates in Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Shandong even exceed 200%[7].

2. The growth of the diabetes health food market is steady, and the consumer intention is clear: The increasing prevalence rate and health awareness have jointly driven the expansion of the market for diabetes-specific foods. Data shows that the global market value of diabetes food reached 12.11 billion US dollars in 2024 and is expected to grow to 19.27 billion US dollars by 2032. Among them, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the functional food sub-sector is expected to remain at 6%[8]. According to NIQ's 2023 Consumer Outlook report, 46% of consumers consider physical or mental health as one of their top concerns[9].

3. The Chinese health supplements market is in a rapid growth phase. In 2024, the scale of China's nutrition and health market reached 399.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3%. According to the prediction of CRI-CN Industry Research Institute, by 2030, the scale of the Chinese health products market will exceed 1.5 trillion yuan, and the annual compound growth rate will remain at a high level. From different statistical perspectives, there are certain differences in the market scale data:

• In 2023, the scale of China's health - preserving and health food market reached 215.92 billion yuan, a 4.30% increase compared with the previous year. It is expected to reach 230.82 billion yuan in 2024 and is expected to climb to 244.67 billion yuan in 2025.
• In 2023, the scale of the Chinese health products market was approximately 328.2 billion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 8.29%. It is expected to grow to 347.5 billion yuan in 2024 and will exceed 360 billion yuan in 2025.

(1) Strengths

Product Form Innovation

• The product uses the popping candy jelly form, which meets the needs of the young group (aged 18 - 35, accounting for 60% of health supplement consumers and preferring chewable tablets/jelly forms) for "functional + interesting" snacks. It solves the use threshold and taste defects of traditional GLP - 1 preparations (injections/tablets).
• The single - piece independent packaging is suitable for multiple scenarios (afternoon tea, after sports, business trips), meeting the "portability" consumption demand of Generation Z.

Technological Differentiation Advantage

• Efficient synthesis of GLP - 1 is achieved through synthetic biology technology. Embedding it in the jelly matrix solves the problem of oral bioavailability (avoiding the limitation of traditional oral GLP - 1 that requires 30g of fat). At the same time, natural sweeteners (such as mogroside/erythritol) are compounded to balance the "sugar - controlling effect" and the "sweet taste experience".
• Compared with competitors: It has better function coverage than Kangmaisi White Kidney Bean Jelly (which only blocks starch) and better convenience of taking than Eden Semaglutide Gummy (with no dietary restrictions).

Precise Coverage of Target Population

• It focuses on three high-demand groups: those aged 18 - 40 who are addicted to sweets (with a daily sugar intake of over 50g), those aged 20 - 45 who are managing their weight (70% are troubled by sweet cravings), and those aged 35 - 55 who are early-stage hyperglycemic patients (a population of 88 million), with strong rigid demand.

(2) Weaknesses

Prominent Compliance Risks

• The National Medical Products Administration has clearly stated that "GLP - 1 drugs are prescription drugs, and adding them to health supplements is illegal". Although the product is prepared using synthetic biology, it is not clear whether it will be included in the "new food raw material" approval, so there is a risk of policy-related qualitative determination (refer to Professor Shao Rong's regulatory interpretation of GLP - 1 products).

Shortcomings in Brand and Channels

• As a new brand, it lacks popularity. Compared with Kangmaisi (with over 30,000 terminal outlets) and WonderLab (with an all - channel layout), its initial channel coverage is insufficient, and the cost of obtaining online traffic is high.

Cost and Pricing Pressure

• The R & D and mass production costs of synthetic biology technology are relatively high. If the price is higher than 15.8 yuan per box (Kangmaisi's group buying price) or outside the 80 - 150 yuan customer unit - price range (the psychological price of Generation Z), it may affect mass market penetration.

(3) Opportunities

Explosion of Market Demand

• There is a triple dividend in the sugar-control market: the sweet-substitute market (with a scale of 6 trillion), the diabetic food market (expected to reach 150 billion in 2030), and the health supplement market (1.5 trillion in 2030). Over 50% of consumers actively choose sugar - free/low - sugar products.

Window of Channel Dividends

• Interest e - commerce has become a growth engine: The sales volume of health supplements on Douyin is 1.5 times that on Tmall, and the GMV of live - streaming sales by doctors/nutritionists has increased by 217%. It can leverage professional personas to quickly build trust (refer to the "one - box - one - code" trust - building system case).
• WeChat Mini - Programs have added the "Health Food" category, providing a compliant channel for social e - commerce penetration.

Obvious Shortcomings of Competitors

• Existing sugar-control products have functional limitations: White kidney bean products only block starch (such as WonderLab's Sugar-Control Tablets), injections cause needle fear (20 - 30% of patients stop using them), and oral medications require strict dietary cooperation (30% have poor efficacy). The product can fill the gap between "painless sugar control + delicious experience".

(4) Threats

Tightening Policy Supervision

• The state's supervision of GLP-1 products is getting stricter. In 2024, there have been cases of cross - border sales of unapproved products being investigated. If it fails to obtain compliant qualifications, it may face the risk of fines or product delisting.

Competition from Leading Brands

• Companies such as Nestle and Danone have already entered the diabetic food market (with a combined market share of 27%) and may quickly replicate the "functional jelly" form. Domestic brands like By - Health have advantages in channels and compliance.

Barrier of Consumer Trust

• Previously, there were "false claims" issues with GLP - 1 health supplements, and consumers are skeptical about the "food - grade sugar - controlling effect". High-cost market education is required (such as publicizing clinical data and obtaining endorsements from authoritative institutions).

Policy Compliance Strategy: Anchor to the Path of Consumer Products and Strengthen the Compliance Foundation

a. Clarify the Compliance Direction for Consumer Products (Match New Policy Data)

• Core Path: Ordinary Food + New Food Ingredients
• The product is core - positioned as "consumer - grade functional snacks". In the short term, it will be launched in compliance with the "ordinary food" category, only claiming "assist in controlling daily sugar intake" and "reduce blood sugar fluctuations caused by high - sugar diets", and strictly avoiding medical terms such as "treatment" and "reversal" (in line with the restrictions on food claims in the Food Safety Law and the Advertising Law).
• In the medium term, rely on policy support to promote compliance upgrading: In 2025, the National Health Commission approved allulose as a new food ingredient (naturally low in calories, GI = 0, can assist in blood sugar management). It can be included in the formula. At the same time, start the application for the "new food ingredient" of GLP - 1 derivatives prepared by synthetic biology (refer to the approval path of allulose) without involving the drug registration process.
• Special Medical Food Path (Extension of Consumer Products, Non - therapeutic)
• If the subsequent expansion targets the niche scenario of "daily blood sugar control auxiliary food for diabetes patients", it is necessary to comply with the Administrative Measures for the Registration of Formula Foods for Special Medical Purposes and the Registration Guide for Total Nutritional Formula Foods. However, it only focuses on the function of "daily diet supplement" (such as slow - release carbohydrate components to assist in stabilizing post - meal blood sugar).
• There is no need to conduct therapeutic clinical trials, only the safety verification of the formula needs to be completed (such as the compliance of raw materials and the detection of microbial limits).
• The label should mark consumer - related information such as "Suitable for adults concerned about blood sugar management" and "Consumption suggestion: 1 piece after meals", without involving claims of "therapeutic use".

b. Key Requirements for the Declaration of Consumer Products (Extract New Compliance Points)

• Ingredient Compliance: Sweeteners (for example, allulose should use raw materials produced by enzymatic methods from compliant enterprises such as COFCO Technology), dietary fiber, etc. should be approved food ingredients. Genetically engineered strains should comply with the List of Safe Strains for Food Use, and the strain deposit numbers should be submitted to ensure that the synthetic biology process complies with the Guide for Synthetic Biology Food Manufacturing Technology implemented in May 2025.
• Production Standards: If it involves the extended scenario of special medical purpose foods, an independent production line should be used to avoid cross - contamination. The rest of the consumer products should be produced in accordance with the National Food Safety Standard - Jelly (GB 19299), and there is no need for pharmaceutical - grade production standards.
• Leverage Policy Dividends: Rely on local support policies for consumer - grade healthy foods. For example, Xuhui District in Shanghai provides a construction subsidy of up to 20,000 square meters for synthetic biology enterprises and a "reward of 200,000 yuan for each certified special medical purpose food" (only apply for consumer - grade auxiliary function certification) to reduce compliance costs. Refer to the "payment pilot for blood sugar control products" in Hainan to explore inclusion in the "health management service package" of local commercial insurance (non - therapeutic reimbursement) to improve consumer acceptance.

Economic Market Strategy: Focus on the Consumer - Grade Blood Sugar Control Market and Meet Mass Demands

a. Insight into the Scale and Demand of the Consumer Market (Strengthen Non - therapeutic Data)

• Global Dividends in the Blood Sugar Control Consumer Market: In 2024, the global market scale of sugar - free foods, blood sugar monitoring (consumer - grade), and digital health management (non - therapeutic) exceeded 82 billion US dollars. The annual sales volume growth rate of sugar - free beverages in China reached 45%. The scale of functional jelly is expected to reach 10.8 billion yen (about 520 million yuan) in 2024. The consumer demand for "preventive blood sugar control" has exploded, providing a mature market foundation for the product.
• Potential of the Diabetes - Related Consumer Market: The number of diabetes patients worldwide is expected to reach 643 million in 2030 (the number of adolescent patients aged 10 - 19 increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.6 million in 2024). However, the core demand is concentrated on "daily diet blood sugar control" rather than treatment. 60% of patients are willing to pay a 20 - 30% premium for "convenient and delicious blood sugar control snacks" (data from Nielsen in 2023), which is highly consistent with the "bursting bead jelly" form of the product.
• Matching of Consumption Ability and Scenarios: The annual average consumption of healthy snacks by the 18 - 35 - year - old group in China (the core group of sweet food lovers) exceeds 1,200 yuan. The proportion of "blood sugar control" snacks has increased from 15% in 2020 to 32% in 2024. A mass - market pricing of "19.9 yuan per box (10 pieces)" (lower than the original price of 89 yuan per box of Kang Maisi) can cover price - sensitive consumer groups such as students and white - collar workers.

b. Hierarchical Pricing for Consumption and Cost Control (Optimize the Logic of Consumer Products)

• Hierarchical Pricing to Adapt to Consumption Scenarios:
• Mass - market Version (19.9 yuan per box): Target the daily blood sugar control demand, such as "buy a milk tea and add 5 yuan to exchange for" in milk tea shops to seize the fast - moving snack market.
• High - end Version (59.9 yuan per box): Add allulose and natural fruit and vegetable extracts, and mark "Low GI Certified" on the packaging. Enter high - end supermarkets such as Hema and Ole' to attract middle - class consumers who pay attention to quality.
• Family Pack (99 yuan for 3 boxes): Target families with children (parents are worried about the harm of high - sugar snacks), and focus on "blood sugar control for the whole family", suitable for community group - buying and e - commerce promotion scenarios.
• Cost Reduction in the Consumer - Grade Supply Chain: Initially, outsource production to food contract manufacturers (reduce equipment investment). After the monthly sales volume exceeds 100,000 boxes, through "centralized procurement of raw materials" (sign long - term agreements with Guangxi Momordica grosvenori bases and COFCO allulose factories) and "large - scale production" (annual production capacity of 10 million boxes), reduce the unit cost to less than 10 yuan per box to ensure the profit margin of consumer products.

Social Demand Strategy: Fit Consumer Preferences and Anchor to the Healthy Snack Scenario

a. Adapt to Consumption Trends (Focus on Non - therapeutic Health Needs)

• Consumer Preference for "Healthy + Delicious": The global functional food market is expected to reach 435 billion US dollars in 2030. The annual growth rate of "0 - sugar, 0 - fat, 0 - calorie" snacks in China exceeds 25%. The product solves the pain point of "poor taste" of traditional blood sugar control foods through the "bursting bead jelly form + fruit tea / caramel flavor" (allulose achieves sweet taste without metallic taste), meeting the consumer demand for "tasty and healthy".
• Blood Sugar Control Demand of Children and Adolescents: Parents' concerns about the harm of high - sugar snacks are increasing. 80% of parents are willing to choose "blood sugar control jelly" for their children to replace ordinary candies (new social data). A "children's version" (low - sugar, added with vitamins) can be developed, and the packaging should mark "Suitable for children" and "No added preservatives". It can enter mother - and - baby stores and convenience stores around schools.
• Consumption Equity and Inclusiveness: For low - income groups (with a relatively high incidence of diabetes but limited consumption ability), a "simple - packed version" (5 pieces per bag, 9.9 yuan) can be launched. Through channels such as community supermarkets and township convenience stores, it can cover a wider range of consumers and avoid the "high - price" of consumer products getting out of the mass market.

b. Penetration of Consumption Scenarios (Strengthen Non - medical Scenarios)

• Binding with High - Sugar Scenarios: Cooperate with milk tea shops (such as Mixue Bingcheng and Heytea) to launch "blood sugar control packages" (milk tea + jelly). Place vending machines in gyms and dessert shops, focusing on scenarios of "post - meal blood sugar control" and "snack replacement".
• Family Daily Scenarios: Display the product in both the "snack area" and the "healthy food area" of supermarkets, and match it with a "blood sugar control recipe manual" (such as a breakfast combination of "jelly + whole - wheat bread") to guide daily consumption.
• Gift Scenarios: Launch "blood sugar control gift boxes" (matched with sugar - free tea and low - GI biscuits) as festival gifts (such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid - Autumn Festival) to expand the scenario boundaries of consumer products.

Technology R & D Strategy: Focus on the Technology of Consumer Products and Avoid Therapeutic Attributes

a. Formulation Technology: Focus on the Blood Sugar Control Function of Consumer Products (Remove Drug - Related Technologies)

• Optimization of Low - GI Formulation: Use a combination of "natural sugar substitutes + dietary fiber" - allulose (GI = 0) and mogroside (300 times sweeter) to provide sweet taste. Resistant dextrin (technology from Nippon Shokuhin Kako) and citrus pectin (modified technology from CPKelco) can delay the rise of blood sugar and improve the texture of jelly (avoid roughness).
• Compliant Addition of Blood Sugar Control Ingredients: Prepare GLP - 1 derivatives through synthetic biology technology (E. coli engineered strains). Control the addition amount according to the "new food ingredient" standard, and only play the consumer - grade function of "assisting in regulating post - meal blood sugar fluctuations", without involving therapeutic doses.
• Synergy of Probiotics: Add lactic acid bacteria using microencapsulation technology (spray drying + sodium alginate embedding) to improve the survival rate in the intestine, highlighting the dual consumer selling points of "intestinal health + blood sugar control", without claiming to "treat intestinal diseases".

Environmental - Friendly Strategy: Sustainable Production and Sales, and an Environment - Friendly Brand

• Green Production: The synthetic biology process reduces the use of chemical reagents, reduces environmental pressure, and conforms to the trend of "green consumption".
• Degradable Packaging: Use degradable plastics (such as PLA material) for packaging and mark the "degradable" logo, which fits the "environmental protection" consumption concept of Generation Z and enhances brand favorability.
• Convenient Design: Single - piece independent packaging (easy to carry) and tear - off openings (easy for children / the elderly to operate) meet the "instant" and "convenient" needs of snack consumption.

Legal Compliance and Risk Response: Control the Bottom Line of Consumer Products

a. Key Points of Legal Compliance (Focus on Food - Related Requirements)

• Compliance of Labels and Claims: Strictly abide by the General Rules for the Labeling of Pre - packaged Foods, mark the "Food Production License Number", "Ingredient List", and "Nutrition Facts Table". Do not mark any medical terms, and only use consumer - related claims such as "Assist in controlling sugar intake" and "Low - GI food".
• Intellectual Property Protection: Apply for patents for consumer products for the "bursting bead jelly form", "GLP - 1 + allulose formula", and "strain production process" to prevent imitation by competitors, without involving drug patents.
• Advertising Compliance: When promoting on platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu, avoid expressions such as "lower blood sugar" and "treat diabetes". Use consumer - scenario - based phrases such as "Eat 1 piece after having desserts to reduce sugar burden" and "A partner for milk tea, control blood sugar without giving up sweetness".

b. Risk Response (Exclusive to Consumer Products)

• Policy Risk: Track the approval dynamics of "new food ingredients" (such as GLP - 1 derivatives). If the policy tightens, quickly switch to a "pure plant formula" (white kidney bean extract + allulose) to ensure that the product always meets the consumer - grade positioning.
• Quality Risk: Establish a quality traceability system for consumer products ("one code per box" to query the source of raw materials and production batches), and purchase product liability insurance for food products to deal with potential consumer disputes such as taste complaints and packaging problems.
• Competition Risk: In response to the layout of consumer - grade healthy snacks by leading enterprises such as Nestle and Danone, build a competitive barrier through "scenario - based innovation" (such as co - branded milk tea products) and "cost - effectiveness" (20% lower price than competitors), and avoid falling into the competition trap of "therapeutic function".

Positioned as "consumer - grade healthy snacks" as the core, through "SWOT advantage transformation + PESTEL environment adaptation", four core strategies are formed:

i. Product End: Anchor to "delicious + blood sugar control + portability". Adapt to consumer habits with the bursting bead jelly form and multi - scenario packaging (single - piece pack / sharing pack), and fill the functional gap with the combination of "GLP - 1 + sugar substitute + blocker".

ii. Compliance End: Start as "ordinary food" and gradually apply for "new food ingredients", avoid medical claims, and establish consumer trust with "transparent ingredients + third - party endorsement".

iii. Channel End: Deeply cultivate interest e - commerce (content marketing on Douyin / Xiaohongshu) online, and enter high - sugar scenarios (milk tea shops / gyms) offline to reduce the customer acquisition cost of consumer products.

iv. Brand End: Take advantage of the "sugar - reduction policy + environmental protection trend" to create an image of a "healthy + sustainable" consumer - grade brand. Improve user stickiness through community operation (blood sugar control punch - in), and finally become the leader in the "consumer - grade blood sugar control snack" category.

In the future, we will incorporate functional ingredients such as probiotics to achieve an integrated solution that combines blood sugar control, weight management and digestive health. And continuously customize for different groups of people
- Children and teenagers: Fruit-flavored or milk-flavored extrudable jelly to add fun and appeal.
- Adult version: Mint-flavored strip-shaped jelly, easy to carry and enjoy anytime and anywhere.
- Suitable for the elderly: Soft, bite-sized jelly specially designed for easy swallowing and digestion.

In addition, we will explore subscription services and personalized nutrition customization, and plan to expand to other dosage forms (such as gummy candies and beverages) to meet a wider range of health needs scenarios.

The portable GLP-1 functional jelly we have launched innovatively combines synthetic biology technology with the familiar food form. Through genetically engineered Escherichia coli, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is continuously and stably released in the human body, thereby achieving physiological-level blood sugar regulation and appetite management.

Compared with traditional blood sugar control methods, our solution has multiple innovative dimensions:

• Innovative delivery method: We have completely overturned the traditional administration route of GLP-1, which relied on injection or oral tablets, and ingeniously integrated it into the daily snack jelly. The concept of this "edible bioreactor" enables users to enjoy delicious food without experiencing the pain of injections or the inconvenience of taking medicine, greatly enhancing medication compliance and quality of life.
• Product form and user experience innovation: We have chosen the "Bao Bao Zhu" jelly form, which is deeply loved by people of all ages. The outer jelly base is made of low-glycemic index (Low-GI) carbohydrates and natural sweeteners,and is embedded with microcapsules containing engineered bacteria. The moment it bursts in the mouth, it not only brings a unique sensory experience but also marks the precise release of active ingredients. This design transforms functional foods from "bitter medicine" to "delicious enjoyment", redefining the boundaries of healthy snacks.
• Application scenario innovation: This product has dual attributes of prevention and auxiliary management. It is a relaxed and worry-free daily health management tool for people with prediabetes, weight managers, and healthy consumers who simply wish to control sugar intake, achieving a scene leap from "treatment" to "prevention" and from "medical care" to "daily use".