The startup of the Spotify CEO for AI-supported well being care collects 60 million euros

Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek’s preventative healthcare startup has just received a very strong vote of confidence from venture capitalists. Neko Health announced today that it has raised €60 million in a round led by Lakestar and backed by Atomico and General Catalyst.

The funds will be used to expand the concept outside of its home country of Sweden, where the company currently runs a private body scanning clinic.

Neko Health, named after the Japanese word for cat, was founded in 2018 by Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne. After a long period of secrecy, the first clinic opened in Stockholm in February this year. It was fully booked within two hours and 5,000 people were put on a waiting list.

“I have spent more than ten years exploring the untapped potential of healthcare innovation,” Ek said in a statement. “We are committed to building a healthcare system that focuses on prevention and patient care, aiming to serve not only our generation but generations to come.”

3D body scans

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At the clinic, people undergo full-body 3D scans in a minimalistic booth that wouldn’t look out of place in a Star Trek episode, outfitted with dozens of sensors and powered by, you guessed it, artificial intelligence. In particular, algorithms can immediately identify potential skin diseases and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Patients (is it still called that in preventive medicine?) also undergo a laser scan and an ECG, which takes between 10 and 20 minutes in total. Bones may not meet her after the exams, but her findings are reviewed and explained by a real, human doctor.

“We have our own nurses, doctors and specialists,” said Nilsonne Bloomberg. “We employ dermatologists who just check skin images. There is a doctor on site who can provide a qualified medical opinion on whatever is needed.”

The price for a Neko Health assessment is €250 and the company has run over 1,000 scans since launch. Nearly 80% of clients reportedly prepaid for their one-year follow-up visits.

AI holds great potential for disease prevention and early detection – but only if the results can be interpreted. It’s unclear how much insight Neko Health’s doctors have into the way the algorithm makes its predictions (e.g. which factor contributes to cardiovascular disease risk, so that the patient/client is better informed). can be made, which measures are to be taken).

purpose and ambition

One of the company’s backers is Skype co-founder and Atomico founder Niklas Zennström, who will also sit on the board. He sees tremendous potential in the new venture from the man who fundamentally changed the way we consume music.

“Neko Health is exactly the kind of mission that excites us at Atomico. It’s that rare combination of a company with a purpose and outsized ambitions and founders with a world-class track record,” said Zennström. “They solve a problem we can all identify with and have the potential to transform global healthcare forever.”