Gaba Labs secures £525.8k to advance alcohol alternative ingredients

Hemel Hempstead-based Gaba Labs Ltd has secured £525.8k in a new funding round. The company, incorporated in 2016, develops functional ingredients and beverages designed to provide the mood-enhancing effects of alcohol without the substance itself. Its product range includes the botanical spirit Sentia and a biomimetic ingredient called Alcarelle, which targets adult social drinkers seeking relaxation.

This latest injection follows a total of £300.2k raised during 2025. The business aims to take its primary ingredient through the FDA GRAS regulatory pathway in the United States. Once safety validation is complete, the firm plans to license the technology to the global drinks industry for use in a new category of adult beverages.

Financial records for the year ended 31 May 2025 showed a headcount of two staff members, though LinkedIn data currently lists 10 employees specializing in biotechnology and GABA research. A pioneering team of scientists focuses on GABAergic ingredients to promote social connection. The funding was formalised via an allotment in March 2026 (with documentation filed in April).