Bluenose Probiotics: From gut health to success

When Anindita Gupta moved to Nova Scotia in 2016 to pursue a Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saint Mary’s University, she was immediately drawn to the province’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“I felt a real sense of possibility here,” she recalls. “People were so open and supportive—the kind of environment where ideas can grow into something meaningful.”

For Anindita, who grew up in Assam, India, and later studied and worked in the United States, Nova Scotia represented not only a place to pursue her studies, but a place to build something purposeful.

“I wanted to create a business that wasn’t just profitable but also meaningful,” she says. “Something that could improve lives while contributing to my new community.”

Entrepreneurship ran in her family— her father worked in the food and restaurant industry— and Anindita inherited his drive. With professional experience in research labs, pharmaceuticals, and startups, she brought both scientific discipline and entrepreneurial vision. But ultimately, her personal health challenges inspired her journey.

“I struggled with poor gut health,” she explains. “When I looked for solutions, almost every probiotic I found was dairy-based and high in sugar, options that didn’t worked for me. That frustration became the seed for Bluenose Probiotics.”

Out of that spark came Bluenose Probiotics and its flagship product, KefiLassi—a dairy-free, vegan probiotic drink designed to make gut health inclusive and accessible to all.

Her decision to join the Immigrant Women Entrepreneur Network (IWEN) Pitch Competition was both professional and deeply personal.

“I wanted to share my vision with a wider audience, challenge myself, and refine my pitch,” she recalls.

The most valuable lesson she learned was to lean into her own story: the “why” behind her business. That authenticity resonated, helping her win first place in the 2025 IWEN Pitch Competition.

“Winning IWEN was incredible,” Anindita reflects. “It wasn’t just about the recognition, it was about telling my story and seeing how much it connected with others. That gave me the confidence to dream bigger. Her mission, however, extends beyond nutrition. Anindita is deeply interested in the gut–brain connection and how improved gut health can support mental well-being, particularly for neurodivergent children and adults.

“If KefiLassi can make even a small difference there, it would mean the world to me,” she says.

Like many immigrant entrepreneurs, Anindita faced funding, regulations, and building networks challenges. She overcame them through mentorship, persistence, and community support —turning every “no” into a lesson and every barrier into an opportunity to grow.

For Anindita, the IWEN recognition is more than an achievement, it’s validation that her mission matters.

“When I first arrived in Canada, there were very few spaces highlighting women’s entrepreneurial journeys. Seeing ISANS create IWEN felt like an answered prayer,” she reflects.

Today, Bluenose Probiotics is scaling up production, building retail and wholesale partnerships, and growing its local customer base with the long-term goal of expanding across Canada and beyond.

“Every bottle of KefiLassi carries a piece of Nova Scotia spirit,” Anindita says. “It reflects this province’s resilience and innovation, and my hope is to share that spirit with the world.”