Nordstrom has partnered with startups in the Seattle area Viome Life Science Sells kits that analyze the microbiome, intestinal tract and other parts of the body’s bacteria and other microbial collections.
To test the limitations of Nordstrom’s generous return policy, Viome’s “health smart” kit required the collection of stool samples. The kit will be sold on Nordstrom.com as part of the Nordstrom Beauty category for $199 and will appear in selected Nordstrom stores in 2022.
“Both Viome and Nordstrom believe that true health and beauty begins internally,” Viome CEO and founder Naveen Jain said in a statement. The health intelligence test is also available on the Viome website.
Viome analyzes the microbiome by sequencing the RNA and nucleic acids present in the organism. This method detects bacteria and other components of the intestinal tract, such as yeast and viruses.
The company claims that its artificial intelligence-driven algorithms can provide personalized recommendations for diet and supplements. Viome customers can also sign up for a $149 monthly mail service to get “precise” customized supplements and probiotics.
Viome conducted a study and stated that its service significantly improved self-reported cases of anxiety, bowel disease, and major depression.Data published On the preprint service bioRxiv And it has not been peer reviewed. But external researchers are skeptical.
The methodology is “problematic”, David Suskind Tell GeekWire before. Suskind is a gastroenterologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. He is also the co-founder of Nimbal Health, a company that provides nutrition and lifestyle advice to patients with intestinal diseases and tests their blood and feces.
To date, Viome has raised US$80 million from investors including Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and is expected to generate US$100 million in revenue next year.it Also developing Saliva testing for head and neck cancer and Recently hired Emanuel Hanon, The former head of GlaxoSmithKline Vaccine Group to help run its independent diagnosis and treatment department.
Jain is the founder and former CEO of InfoSpace and the co-founder of public record company Intelius and Moon Express, which aims to bring paying customers to the moon. Founded in 2016, Viome is Jain’s first life science company.
He told GeekWire that he has learned to have a consumer mindset and attractive product design.