3 Startups in the Root Cause Medicine Space To Watch In 2024

More health-tech startups are expected to focus on personalized and preventive care. (1) Between the rapid advances in AI/ML and the fact that 6 out of 10 people in the United States have a chronic disease, it’s no surprise why companies are moving in this direction.

While there are many exciting startups emerging in the healthcare space, here are three that may be worth keeping an eye on in 2024: 

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1. Being Health

Being Health launched in January 2024 after raising $5.4 million in funding. Started by Dr. Allie Sharma, a Cornell-trained board-certified Adult Psychiatrist, Being Health is a mental health practice that wants to help people feel and function better through an integrated care model. They offer both virtual and in-person appointments in their New York City clinic.

What makes Being Health noteworthy. Being Health is unique because of its whole-person approach to mental health. In addition to having both psychiatrists and psychotherapists on staff, they also have functional medicine providers, nutritionists, and acupuncturists. The company also offers novel treatments like ketamine therapy, addressing the critical need for a comprehensive mental health care strategy that targets the root cause and offers a variety of treatment options.

2. Jona Health

Jona Health, which provides at-home microbiome profiling kits, launched in November 2023 with $5 million in funding. The company, which was founded by the former CEO of Paige, Leo Grady, uses AI to analyze an individual's gut microbiome to deliver actionable, personalized insights to both consumers and providers. 

What makes Jona Health noteworthy. It’s well established that the gut microbiome is critical to several facets of health, from mental health to immune function. However, the complexity of microbiome data has historically limited individuals' ability to understand and manage their gut health. Jona bridges this gap by utilizing LLMs to interpret vast amounts of medical and scientific literature, offering personalized health profile interpretations and recommendations.

3. Elo Health

While Elo Health — a personalized nutrition startup — has been around since 2020, it has experienced several milestones over the last few months. In January 2023, the company raised a $10 million Series A round and introduced the first-ever personalized protein product, based on biomarkers, goals, and activity data. Elo also partnered with the UK-based startup, Nourished, to create personalized gummy supplements. 

What makes Elo Health noteworthy. Nutrition can serve many functions, from optimizing athletic performance to helping with the management of chronic illnesses. But nutrition is also deeply personal and requires a holistic approach that takes cultural, genetic, and lifestyle factors into account. Elo Health is taking a step in the right direction by giving consumers access to more personalized nutrition products that are tailored to their needs. 

It’s clear that we’re moving into a new era of healthcare — one that focuses on personalization and prevention — and we’re seeing this reflected in the startups that are receiving funding.