NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Athletigen Technologies announced today that it has raised approximately $1.6 million in seed funding, which the firm will use to advance its sports-focused direct-to-consumer genetic analysis service.
Athletigen markets a $199 kit that customers use to provide the company with a saliva sample that is analyzed for 850,000 genetic variants, which the firm claims can influence human athletic performance. Under a deal signed in October, Athletigen uses Affymetrix's Axiom genotyping platform for the analysis.
With the new seed money, Athletigen said it aims to expand usage of its service with a focus on athletes preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The financing was led by Exponential Partners, which now has a representative on Athletigen's board of directors. Also participating in the funding round were existing investors Ray Muzyka and Content Bloom.