Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim, Mybacs: At Mybacs, we harness the power of the microbiome to improve health from the inside out. We develop high-quality, scientifically-backed dietary supplements specifically designed to promote the balance of gut flora. Our goal is to strengthen the connection between the gut and overall wellbeing, because we know that a healthy microbiome not only affects digestion, but impacts far more processes in the body, including the immune system, metabolism, skin health, and even the psyche. The problem we solve is that many people today suffer from stress, poor diet, and environmental factors that throw their microbiome out of balance. Through our products, we offer natural support to restore the gut microbiome to equilibrium and thus increase wellbeing. Our formulations contain specially selected bacterial strains and nutrients that have proven their effectiveness in scientific studies. We place great emphasis on transparency and quality – all our products are vegan, gluten- and lactose-free, and developed on the basis of the latest scientific findings.
Munich Startup: But that’s been around for ages!
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: That’s true, dietary supplements for gut health are not a completely new invention. What sets Mybacs apart from our competitors, however, are our innovative formulations that are precisely tailored to the needs and requirements of specific target groups. Additionally, we differentiate ourselves through the way we bring gut health to the broader public. We go one step further by leveraging the latest research results in microbiome health to develop high-dose products that target not only digestion, but also skin health, metabolism, and the immune system in a targeted way. We also place great emphasis on transparency and aesthetics – we want our customers to know what they’re taking, while offering premium, appealing design. Our direct customer engagement and D2C approach enable us to respond more quickly to customer needs and offer individualized solutions.
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: Our story began in 2018 with a key question: How can we sustainably improve human health? We found the answer in the microbiome – one of the most underestimated areas of our body. We realized that better health begins with a holistic understanding of it and optimal nutrient absorption, which is significantly influenced by the microbiome.
Science meets modern health needs
The original idea was Travelbacs, a product specifically for travelers to prevent digestive issues from foreign environmental conditions and pathogens. But with the outbreak of the pandemic, travel became impossible, and we realized that the microbiome also needed significant support in everyday life. My co-founder Sebastian, a pharmacist, observed during his studies in Boston how the gut health sector was gaining considerable attention in an international context. In America, brands like Seed had already established themselves, offering not only high-quality products but also building a modern, appealing, and scientifically-grounded brand, while in Germany the topic was still dominated by traditional, outdated brands in the pharmacy sector. There was a lack of scientifically-based and aesthetically appealing D2C brands.
That’s when we founded Mybacs (= my bacteria) – with the goal of connecting the science of the microbiome with modern health needs and offering products that are both scientifically rigorous and visually appealing and easily accessible.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: Our biggest challenges at Mybacs have been varied: A central challenge is consumer education. Many people are not aware of the importance of the microbiome for their health. Our task is not only to offer products, but also to raise awareness of the role a healthy gut flora plays. This requires a lot of educational work through marketing, our website, and direct customer contact. We had to find ways to make complex scientific connections understandable and show how our products support health in the long term.
Challenge: Market entry in a heavily regulated environment
Another challenge was entering a heavily regulated market. Dietary supplements are subject to strict legal requirements, especially regarding health claims. Therefore, we ensure that all statements are scientifically sound and compliant with regulations in markets like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The path from idea to market approval is often complex and time-intensive – but achievable, as we’ve seen in our company.
Finally, growth and scaling are a challenge. The transition from startup to established brand requires building stable infrastructure and a strong team. In addition to product development, we had to further expand our logistics, distribution, and marketing to meet growing demand – always with a focus on sustainable growth and maintaining our quality and values.
Munich Startup: Where do you want to be in one year, where in five years?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: In one year, we want to significantly increase our brand awareness in the DACH region by further expanding our online business and strengthening customer loyalty on our website. Our focus is on continuously optimizing and expanding our product portfolio to meet our customers’ changing needs. We are also aiming to enter the offline market to make our products accessible to a larger target audience.
In five years, we see Mybacs as a leading provider of scientifically-backed microbiome products in Europe. In the long term, we want to build a strong community around gut health and wellbeing that supports people in understanding and improving their health holistically. Additionally, we plan international expansion to establish a foothold outside the DACH region and build the brand globally.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: Munich offers us an excellent environment and some significant advantages that make the location particularly attractive. The city is renowned for its strong presence in technology, IT, life sciences, and medical research. This makes Munich a hotspot for tech startups and research institutions, offering diverse opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
Thanks to renowned universities like Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) and Technical University of Munich (TUM), startups have access to highly qualified professionals and new talent, particularly in technology, natural sciences, and entrepreneurship.
Networks like Bits & Pretzels, the annual founders’ conference, and innovation forums provide excellent platforms for networking, investor contact, and exchange with other founders.
However, Munich is one of the most expensive cities in Germany, which is a particular challenge for young companies. High office and living costs make it difficult to get started. Nevertheless, the high quality of life and strong network make Munich an ideal location for us.
Goal: Sustainable, international success
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Carl-Philipp von Pohlheim: We see ourselves as an exciting mix of both. First, we’re establishing ourselves as a hidden champion, with the goal of becoming the market leader in the microbiome health niche. In the early years, the focus was on sustainable, long-term growth as well as the high quality of our products and close customer relationships. With our scientifically-backed and innovative products, we have already established ourselves in the microbiome niche and offer solutions that truly help our customers.
In the next step, we want to significantly increase our brand awareness, have a public presence, and gain more media attention to develop ourselves into a shooting star. Our vision is not just to be known as a brand for gut health, but as a leading brand that promotes holistic health from the inside out. Our path is clear: We’re aiming for sustainable, international success – both in the niche and beyond.
