SmartyPants, a US-based gummy vitamin supplements manufacturer, has raised $2.59m funding which allows it to accelerate expansion of the brand.

The funds were raised in part through CircleUp, a crowdfunding investment platform that helps small consumer and retail companies raise money directly from a community of individual investors.

SmartyPants co-CEO and co-founder Courtney Nichols Gould said that partnering with CircleUp gave them access to a community of value-added investors that help it capture greater market share.

"They saved us valuable time by managing the process for us and gave us access to investors who might not have crossed our paths but have strategic importance to us," Gould added.

SmartyPants gummy vitamins combine Omega 3 DHA & EPA, Vitamin D and are free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. The product contains organic and natural sweeteners, no high fructose corn syrup and is gluten-free and casein-free.