Key facts
- Neko Health, co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, raised $260 million in a Series B funding round.
- The funds will support the company's expansion into the US and Europe.
- Neko Health offers a non-invasive health scan that collects millions of data points in under an hour.
- The scan assesses risks for conditions like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and skin cancer.
- The company has a waiting list of over 100,000 individuals globally.
Swedish healthtech company Neko Health has successfully raised $260 million in a Series B funding round, with plans to expand its preventive health scanning services internationally. The company, co-founded by Spotify creator Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, aims to shift the healthcare paradigm from reactive treatment to proactive wellness and early detection.
The substantial funding will be allocated to Neko Health's expansion efforts in the United States and Europe, as well as continued investment in research and development for health diagnostics. The company's non-invasive health scan, priced at £299, captures millions of health data points in under an hour, assessing factors such as skin abnormalities, metabolic syndrome symptoms, stroke and heart attack risks, pre-diabetes indicators, and signs of skin cancer or blood disorders. Results are immediately discussed with patients during a doctor-led consultation.
Findings from the company's first year of operation, based on 2,707 scans, indicated that 78.5% of participants showed no immediate health issues. However, 14.1% required medical intervention, and 1% received potentially life-saving interventions for severe conditions like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and malignant melanomas.
Dr. Vishal Gulati, an independent health expert, emphasized the shift towards engaging healthy individuals in their wellbeing journey, stating, "The greatest challenge in modern healthcare isn’t treating the sick – it’s engaging the healthy." Neko Health has completed 10,000 scans in London and Stockholm, its current service locations, and reports significant patient loyalty with 76% rebooking annually. The company faces a global waiting list exceeding 100,000 individuals.
CEO Hjalmar Nilsonne highlighted the market shift towards proactive healthcare, driven by technological advancements and consumer demand. The funding round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from General Catalyst, OG Venture Partners, Rosello, Lakestar, and Atomico. Bejul Somaia, a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, will join Neko Health's Board of Directors.