Starting a Spotify start-up, Ek
Healthcare ‘Neko Health’
Early detection of cancer, etc. through body scanner
Doctor’s opinion
Supermodel and soccer star investment tide
Bloomberg reported on the 15th (local time) that “Neko Health,” a startup led by global music streaming company Spotify founder Daniel Ek, is attracting large amounts of investment from wealthy people and celebrities around the world.
According to reports, Neco Health has successfully attracted $700 million (about W1 trillion) from global venture capital, billionaires, and celebrities. The list of investors included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, tennis champion Maria Sharapova, soccer star Thierry Henry and supermodel Claudia Schieffer. Earlier, Neco Health raised $260 million early last year.
Neco Health is a “healthcare start-up” co-founded by Ek in 2018 with Yalmar Nilssonne. After collecting customer health data using body scanners, it provides services to detect and prevent skin cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other metabolic syndrome early. Its core service is to collect and analyze 50 million data at a time with its own sensor. The total test time takes less than an hour, and it is gaining popularity in that it is possible to receive the results and the doctor’s findings immediately.
The Stockholm, Sweden-based company currently serves in Sweden and the United Kingdom. The examination is conducted at a clinic reminiscent of a spa, and the cost of the examination is about £299 (about 600,000 won), which is cheaper than the cost of a full-body MRI. According to the company, more than 100,000 people have been examined so far, and more than 350,000 people have booked check-ups.
Neco Health aims to open its first screening center in the U.S. later this year in New York City. However, some in the medical community point out that even though there is a national health examination system, it is ‘excessive medical care’ to conduct such additional examinations.
