As more people become health-conscious, vitamin supplements have become a go-to for maintaining wellness. India’s nutraceutical market, valued at $30.37 billion in 2024, is growing rapidly, projected to expand at a CAGR of 13.6% from 2025 to 2030.
Despite the growing demand, many health-conscious individuals struggle to find supplements that truly live up to their promises. Instead of delivering real benefits, they often come with harmful additives that can cause more harm than good.
In a market flooded with pills, powders, and gummies, Radhika Rajpal recognized a significant gap. For years, she dealt with the frustrations of traditional supplements—bloating, poor absorption, and a long list of unnecessary additives. These shortcomings left her wondering if there could be a better, cleaner way to achieve true wellness.
The truth was clear: most pills and gummies were filled with additives, and their effectiveness depended heavily on an individual’s digestive system. It was a fragmented solution to a universal need.
Radhika, who had previously launched a fintech company backed by Techstars accelerator and had professional stints at Barclays and Microsoft, decided to make a change.
Building Patch Up: From Idea to Execution
In 2024, she founded Patch Up Health, introducing a new way to deliver nutrients. Instead of relying on the oral method of taking supplements, she turned to transdermal patches.
Studies reveal that the journey of oral supplements through the digestive system complicates their effectiveness. Once ingested, they pass through stomach acids and digestive enzymes, where nutrients face breakdown and varying absorption rates in the small intestine.
This often leads to low bioavailability and creates a rollercoaster effect with rapid nutrient spikes followed by sharp declines.
This process also makes swallowing pills or chewing gummies inconvenient, especially for those with sensitivities.
Recognizing these limitations, Radhika addressed the issue and began working on transdermal patches.
These clean, non-invasive, and effective patches deliver nutrients directly through the skin, ensuring maximum absorption and bioavailability, unlike traditional pills and gummies.
How Do Transdermal Patches Work?
The effectiveness lies in its transdermal technology. The patches utilize the skin’s natural properties to deliver nutrients directly into the bloodstream. Upon contact with body heat, the adhesive layer activates, allowing fat-soluble nutrients to pass through the skin’s barrier and enter the bloodstream.
This method ensures maximum efficacy while avoiding the unnecessary fillers, flavors, and colors found in oral supplements. The patches are designed using the 500 Dalton Rule, which ensures that only small molecules capable of passing through the skin are included.
“Patch Up brings the concept of vitamin patches to India for the first time. We’re all about making sure that the supplements you consume are the cleanest possible, with zero additives,” says Radhika.
The main challenge was educating consumers about the harmful effects of the ingredients in traditional supplements.
Later, Raghav Gandotra joined the startup as a co-founder, bringing his expertise to help bring Radhika’s vision to life. Together, they are working to create a wellness solution that is not just effective but also pure and additive-free.
Recently, the brand was featured on Shark Tank India and impressed the sharks, securing ₹50 lakh for 2.27% equity, valuing Patch Up at ₹22 crore, with an investment from Anupam Mittal.
Making an Impact
For Radhika, Patch Up was more than just a business idea it was a mission to simplify wellness. Whether for endurance athletes, busy professionals, or anyone beginning their health journey, Patch Up was designed to create a clean, reliable, and easy-to-use solution that seamlessly fits into daily life.
At Patch Up, the goal is to make wellness effortless. No pills, no fuss—just patches working silently while you go about your day.
With Radhika’s vision at its heart, the startup is making a significant mark in India’s expanding health and wellness industry.
