Biohacking Business: Nootropics, Red Light & Growth

Inside the Business of Biohacking: From Nootropics to Red Light Therapy

The relentless pursuit of peak performance and extended longevity, a driving force within the broader wellness economy, has given rise to an intriguing and rapidly expanding sector: biohacking. This movement – focused on optimizing one's biology through science, technology, and lifestyle interventions – has spawned a multi-billion dollar industry attracting significant investment.

The challenge of shrinking corporate lifespans, a trend we've explored in the context of how leaders are future-proofing their companies, highlights a crucial shift: sustainable growth now extends beyond simply optimizing individual products or services.The global biohacking market, valued at an estimated USD 28.2 billion in 2025, is projected to skyrocket to USD 111.3 billion by 2034, growing at an impressive CAGR of 16.5% during this period [GMInsights]. This exponential growth is fuelled by increasing health awareness, access to information, and a desire for greater control over one's physical and cognitive capabilities.

Let's delve into the core business segments driving this revolution, from the cognitive boost of nootropics to the cellular benefits of red light therapy.

Nootropics: Enhancing the Brain's Potential

Nootropics, often dubbed "smart drugs" or cognitive enhancers, represent a significant slice of the biohacking pie. These supplements and compounds aim to improve cognitive functions such as memory, focus, creativity, and motivation. The nootropics market itself is projected to reach USD 16.46 billion in 2025, with a steady growth rate [Research and Markets].

Companies in this space range from well-established supplement brands to specialized biohacking firms. HVMN Inc. is a notable player offering a range of nootropics and performance-enhancing supplements, often focusing on science-backed formulations. Similarly, Mind Lab Pro LLC and Nootropics Depot LLC have carved out niches by providing high-quality, transparently formulated cognitive support.

The business model for nootropics often involves:

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales: Leveraging e-commerce and digital marketing to reach a tech-savvy, health-conscious audience.
Subscription services: Encouraging recurring revenue by offering tailored nootropic stacks for sustained benefits.
Research and Development: Investing in clinical studies and ingredient sourcing to build trust and differentiate products in a crowded market.
Personalization: As seen across the wellness industry, there's a growing trend towards personalized nootropic blends based on individual needs and genetic profiles.

Red Light Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Light

Red light therapy (RLT), scientifically known as photobiomodulation (PBM), uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular function. This non-invasive therapy is gaining immense traction for its purported benefits in areas like skin rejuvenation, pain relief, muscle recovery, and even cognitive enhancement.

The Red Light Therapy Beds Market alone is estimated to be valued at USD 8.21 billion in 2025, with projections indicating growth to USD 19.30 billion by 2032 [Coherent Market Insights]. This segment includes a range of products from full-body beds to portable devices and targeted panels.

Key players in the RLT business include companies like TheraLight, Joovv, and LEREDD (Biohax), which offer a variety of professional and at-home RLT devices. Their business strategies often encompass:

High-end device sales: Targeting wellness clinics, spas, athletic performance centers, and discerning individual consumers.
Home-use solutions: Developing more affordable and compact devices for everyday personal use, broadening market accessibility.
Education and Certification: Providing resources and training on the science and proper application of RLT to build consumer confidence and differentiate their offerings.
Integration into holistic wellness centers: RLT is often offered alongside other biohacking services, creating comprehensive wellness packages that align with the trend of holistic health and preventative care that we explored in "The CEO Playbook for Business Longevity."

Beyond Nootropics and Red Light: A Diverse Landscape

The biohacking business extends far beyond these two prominent areas, embracing a spectrum of innovations:

Wearable Technology: Companies like Apple and Fitbit Inc. are central, with their smartwatches and fitness trackers collecting biometric data that empowers individuals to "hack" their own health. The increasing demand for advanced wearable devices is a significant driver of the overall biohacking market.
Genetic Testing & Nutrigenomics: Firms like InsideTracker Inc. and LifeNome Inc. offer personalized insights based on DNA, guiding tailored nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle interventions. This taps directly into the trend of personalization that is reshaping the wellness landscape.
Sleep Optimization Devices: From smart rings to specialized lighting, companies like Muse (Interaxon Inc.) with their brain-sensing headbands offer tools to improve sleep quality – a foundational element of biohacking.
Advanced Supplementation: Beyond nootropics, the market is rife with supplements targeting specific pathways, from NAD+ boosters for cellular energy to adaptogens for stress management. Companies like Thorne Research Inc. focus on high-quality, scientifically-backed formulations.
Cryotherapy & IV Drips: While often associated with professional clinics, the business models around these rapid recovery and nutrient delivery methods continue to evolve.

The Investment Landscape: Opportunity Amidst Scrutiny

The biohacking sector, as part of the broader healthtech and deeptech landscape, is certainly attracting investor interest. In the UK, venture capital investment reached, solidifying its position as Europe's most active VC market, with significant tailwinds for seed-stage businesses. Healthtech in particular is seeing a shift in focus, surpassing fintech in UK venture capital investment in Q1 2025.

However, the very enthusiasm driving this market also presents significant challenges. The relatively unregulated nature of some biohacking segments, particularly in the supplement and direct-to-consumer therapy space, has led to a proliferation of unproven claims and products. This "wild west" aspect makes it difficult for consumers – and investors – to discern genuine innovations from less scrupulous offerings or even "snake oil." While early-stage funding might be accessible for promising tech, later-stage growth capital, especially from domestic UK investors, remains a challenge, often leading companies to rely on overseas or US investors to scale.

The Regulatory and Ethical Landscape (UK Perspective)

The rapid innovation in biohacking, particularly in areas like advanced supplements and novel devices, often outpaces traditional regulatory frameworks. In the UK, while the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) oversees medicinal products, the landscape for devices is evolving. Notably, a significant overhaul of medical device regulation came into force across Great Britain on June 16, 2025, introducing more rigorous Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) requirements for manufacturers to continuously monitor the safety and performance of their devices post-release. This reform directly impacts companies marketing products ranging from advanced wearables to red light therapy devices, compelling them to ensure ongoing compliance.

This evolving regulatory environment creates both opportunity and challenge. While the lack of stringent, specific "biohacking" regulations for all interventions can allow faster market entry, it also places a greater onus on businesses to demonstrate transparency and trust. Ethical considerations, particularly around genetic data privacy, the potential for misinformation, ensuring equitable access, and the safety of DIY biohacking practices, are increasingly prominent.

The biohacking movement historically has roots in a "do-it-yourself" (DIY) ethos, where individuals experiment with their own biology outside traditional scientific or medical settings. This "garage biohacking," while fostering innovation and citizen science, often operates without formal oversight, raising concerns about safety risks, data integrity, and the ethical implications of self-experimentation [Psychology Today UK, 2025]. This dichotomy highlights the pressing need for the commercial biohacking industry to prioritize robust scientific validation, clear labeling, responsible marketing, and strict adherence to emerging device regulations to maintain credibility and foster consumer confidence.

The Future: Personalized, Proactive, and Purposeful

The business of biohacking is clearly on an upward trajectory, driven by a global shift towards preventative care and individual empowerment. As AI becomes more sophisticated and our understanding of human biology deepens, we can expect even more personalized, data-driven, and integrated solutions. Companies that can effectively blend cutting-edge science with user-friendly technology, all while upholding strong ethical standards and demonstrating tangible benefits, are poised to lead this lucrative and transformative market. The biohacking phenomenon is not just about extending life, but about enriching it, and businesses that can genuinely deliver on that promise will capture significant value in the years to come.