In today’s global health care system, doctors are trained to respond to patients, and only focus on symptoms for treatments once they present a problem. Furthermore, the patients value treatment not after the disease has developed, and especially after their health is significantly deteriorated. What if interventional measures can be taken to prevent a disease? In a system long dominated by reactive approaches, Modgut emerged to fill a critical and largely untapped gap by devising solutions for preventive health rooted in gut microbiome science.
A Promising Journey
In 2022, Nijaporn Chongudomliuk was approached by a group of professors and researchers from King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand to explore how gut microbiome research could be commercialized, particularly in Thailand and across Asia. Though not a scientist or doctor herself, she was invited to check if the project holds commercial value due to her expertise in business.
As she learnt more about global gut microbiome, she realized that this holds more value than just the commercial aspects. She discovered that gut microbiome profiles can change before symptoms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) even appear, and that there is a strong correlation between a person’s gut health and their overall well-being.
Devising a Robust Interventional Approach
What most resonated with her were the facts that a gut microbiome is dynamic and can be influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise. This meant that people could take action to prevent or reverse health problems to the extent they act early enough! Inspired by this guidepost, Nijaporn made it her personal goal to encourage public knowledge about gut microbiome in Thailand and encourage people to take ownership of their health in a
proactive way. “I believe that everyone should have the right to use food as medicine, rather than wait to use medicine as food after falling ill”, states Nijaporn Chongudomliuk, Founder, Modgut.
This precipitated a thought about whether it was logistically possible for humans to engage with health issues as they approached the disease stage. After extensive research and conversations with medical experts, she unearthed the notion of the pre-disease stage, which is essentially a phase where one can easily document subtle changes over a 5 to 10 year period, before the symptoms occur, for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like diabetes, cancers, and heart disease.
With this, she realized if people were just able to notice subtle changes in their health early, thereby helping them take necessary steps to prevent or even reverse the symptoms.
So this insight became the basis of her inspiration, which is to empower humans to know their bodies and take responsibility for their health proactively, rather than reactively. For her, not only would this preventive measure be a revolution, it would be a responsibility and opportunity to make an impactful change.
Knowing each other for more than 20 years, Nijaporn along with Titawadee Kiatnikorn, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Modgut, having 20 years of experience in FMCG marketing and finance set out to establish Modgut. Nijaporn believes that having a good partner is a blessing one can have at a startup.
Personalized Microbiome Innovation
Speaking of the company, Modgut solely focuses on gut microbiome science. Its main product is a personalized gut test that allows a user to understand their gut health better from home. The startup was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein, the entire testing process was designed to be exclusively remote, as it wanted users to be able to assess their health from their homes itself.
I believe that everyone should have the right to use food as medicine, rather than wait to use medicine as food after falling ill
Today, Modgut's services are available in many leading hospitals and clinics across Thailand coupled with its presence on the consumer retail market, reaching customers through B2C & B2B models. After users complete their gut test, a proprietary algorithm then generates a personalized report, and based on the report, the company meticulously curates customized functional probiotics that meet the unique health profile of the individual. This provides a complete and data-backed health solution. Furthermore, the company's innovative concept earned recognition at the Future Food Asia Forum, highlighting its potential as a future innovator in food and wellness.
Modgut’s proprietary microbiome algorithm, built on Thai-specific data, accounts for genetic, dietary, and environmental factors. Unlike foreign datasets, it offers accurate, localized insights, making Modgut the first and only company in the region with such a unique advantage.
Additionally, it also provides early risk predictions on non-communicable diseases based on microbiome profiles and lifestyle patterns. This empowers users to take preventive action before symptoms arise. The algorithm is currently undergoing U.S. patent protection, underscoring its scientific and commercial value.
Vision For the Future
Nijaporn shed light on useful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in science-driven or wellness sectors. Her first piece of advice is to do your due diligence by understanding the whole ecosystem and figuring out what she terms the “recipe for success” in that space. Her second piece of advice is about making something meaningful.
Entrepreneurs need to think closely about whether what they are building actually matters to a certain set of people. “It’s not the technology or the research that makes money, but what it means to someone that does”, says Nijaporn.
As Modgut moves forward, it is on course to carry out Series A round in Q3 so as to support a new phase of growth to apply microbiome insights to food innovation. The mission is to work with food and beverage brands to co-create gut-friendly products and sell them in the food ecosystem, supermarket, café, etc.
Lastly, it plans to help influence the sector by raising public awareness about the importance and management of gut health, so people can then take ownership and responsibility for their own self-care and avoid getting sick, instead of primarily relying on hospitals and doctors to manage illness.
Nijaporn Chongudomliuk, Founder
Nijaporn Chongudomliuk is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder of Modgut, Thailand’s pioneering gut microbiome startup. Leveraging over 25 years of corporate leadership experience, she transitioned from a business executive to a trailblazing founder in 2022 after collaborating with King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) on microbiome research.
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