NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Startup company Viome announced today that it has raised $15 million in Series A funding to support the launch of its at-home human microbiome testing kit.
The company is currently functioning in beta mode, with thousands of customers using the product.
Viome's first round of venture capital financing was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Bold Capital partners. Khosla Ventures, led by managing partner Vinod Khoshla, will receive one seat on Viome's board. The company also noted it has now raised a total of $21 million.
Viome's testing kit uses meta-transcriptome sequencing technology to identify and assess gut microorganisms, and analyzes their behaviors. The technology specifically targets bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungus, and mold in the system, the company said. By applying machine learning to the analysis, Viome then creates personalized recommendations to balance the gut microbiome.
Viome's technology is licensed from the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Los Alamos researchers originally developed the technology to address national security challenges, but with Viome's focus on personalized healthcare, the technology will be used to maintain good health and prevent chronic disease, the firm added.
"[We have] exclusively licensed our advanced transcriptome technology to Viome which allows rapid identification of microorganisms and their metabolic activities," Los Alamos Chief Technology Officer Duncan McBranch said in a statement.