Neko Health, a health tech startup co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, is preparing to launch its $500 longevity body scanner in New York City next month. This move marks Neko's entry into the competitive U.S. preventative healthcare market, which is projected to grow to over $47 billion by 2033. The company has garnered significant financial backing, raising $700 million in Series C funding from high-profile investors including Mark Zuckerberg, Maria Sharapova, Thierry Henry, and Tim Ferriss.
The Neko scanner offers a one-hour, radiation-free check-up that assesses risks for skin cancer, evaluates heart health, and checks visceral body fat and grip strength. It utilizes AI to take over 2,000 photographs for skin mapping and integrates blood tests and ECGs. Within an hour, users receive a review of their health from a doctor, often accompanied by a 3D visualization of their body. The company aims to make preventative care more accessible and affordable, positioning itself as an "affordable luxury" compared to pricier MRI-focused competitors like Prenuvo and Ezra, which can cost significantly more.
Neko's strategy in the U.S. will involve pricing its scans at approximately $500 in New York, an increase from its roughly £299 ($380) price point in the UK, due to higher operational costs in the city. The company plans to expand its diagnostic offerings in New York, including body composition and metabolic diagnostics comparable to DEXA scans. Furthermore, Neko is developing a health app to integrate data from wearable trackers like Oura and Whoop, providing a year-round health database and enhancing the doctor's consultation with a more comprehensive view of a user's health habits. The long-term goal is to make these services even more accessible, potentially through collaborations with employers, insurers, and health systems as Neko demonstrates the effectiveness of its preventative care model.
