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Google Invests Another $2.6M in 23andMe

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Google has invested $2.6 million in 23andMe through a Series B financing, according to a US Securities and Exchange filing by Google yesterday.

Google has invested around $7 million thus far in the consumer genetics startup. Two years ago, Google invested $3.9 million in 23andMe through a Series A round of financing. It also purchased $500,000 of 23andMe's Series A preferred stock from a private investor in 2007.

Sergey Brin, president of technology and a co-founder of Google is the husband of 23andMe Co-founder Anne Wojcicki. He previously invested around $10 million of his own money in 23andMe's convertible debt financing, which was converted into Series B preferred stock as part of 23andMe's Series B round.

Google noted in the SEC filing that the valuation of the Series B investment was determined by 23andMe and New Enterprise Associates — a venture capital investor in 23andMe — in which Google did not play a role.

23andMe has not yet disclosed how much in total it raised through the Series B round or the names of the other investors in addition to Google and New Enterprise Associates.

Google also disclosed in the filing that it had entered into a lease agreement with 23andMe, but it did not provide further details.

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