Key facts
- PNOĒ's new mask, PNOĒ 2.0, allows users to conduct metabolic tests themselves.
- The device measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide exhalation to provide insights into VO₂ max, resting metabolic rate, and metabolic flexibility.
- PNOĒ's current device requires a trained operator, limiting its use to specific locations.
- The new mask is designed to be more reliable and user-friendly, with detachable electronics.
- PNOĒ is careful not to provide medical recommendations, positioning the device as a wellness tool.
- The company has raised approximately $22 million, including a recent $11 million round.
PNOĒ, a company with operations in Malden, Massachusetts, and Athens, Greece, is set to launch its PNOĒ 2.0 device on October 1. This new iteration of their breath-testing mask aims to make lab-grade metabolic testing accessible to consumers through a self-administered process. The device measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide exhalation to provide insights into a user's metabolism, including VO₂ max, resting metabolic rate, and metabolic flexibility.
Unlike the current PNOĒ device, which requires trained personnel, the PNOĒ 2.0 is designed for users to simply wear the mask and breathe for eight minutes. This self-serve capability is expected to expand the device's reach beyond specialized labs to fitness centers and potentially pharmacies. The underlying science of metabolic testing has been established for over a century and is considered a gold standard for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness.
PNOĒ claims its portable device offers the same accuracy as traditional bulky equipment, with software that translates results into actionable recommendations. The company emphasizes that the device is a wellness tool, not a medical device, and does not provide medical diagnoses or prescriptions. However, PNOĒ is collecting data that could potentially be used in the future to flag health issues, though full diagnostic capabilities are years away.
The PNOĒ 2.0 features a more compact and reliable design with fewer parts, developed through numerous iterations with Milan-based Design Group Italia. To address hygiene concerns, the electronics detach from the silicone mask and straps, allowing multiple users to share the hardware. The company, which traces its roots to co-founder Apostolos Atsalakis's PhD work at the University of Cambridge, has raised approximately $22 million in funding. PNOĒ sells its devices to businesses, including Equinox, Four Seasons hotels, and the NBA, which then offer the tests to their customers. The US market accounts for about 85% of PNOĒ's business, with the company now expanding in Europe and other regions.