Daniel Ek, co-founder of Spotify, and Hjalmar Nilsonne have taken a new step in the tech world with the launch of Neko Health, a startup that promises to revolutionize medical check-ups. Their proposal is based on full-body scans, which are then analyzed using artificial intelligence to detect potential health issues. After their success in Sweden, where they already operate two clinics, Neko Health has begun to expand and has opened its first clinic in London.
Advanced Technology for Preventive Health
Neko Health offers a service distinguished by its preventive approach. For £299 (about €355), patients can undergo a full-body scan that lasts approximately an hour. The scan generates "millions" of data points to assess the patient's health in key areas, such as the cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Additionally, the price includes an immediate consultation with a doctor who explains the results.
The technology behind this process is remarkable: the scanner uses 70 sensors to gather detailed body information, which includes two additional scans, eye pressure and blood pressure measurements. The only invasive test is a small blood sample taken at the end of the exam.
Although Neko Health uses artificial intelligence to analyze the large amount of data generated—15 GB per session—the final diagnosis is always made by a doctor. The AI serves as a support tool, with a self-learning system that improves over time, helping doctors make more informed decisions based on the data collected.
Promising Results and a Focus on Prevention
Neko Health's initial results are promising. During its first year of operations, the company conducted 2,707 scans. While 78.5% of patients did not present serious health issues, 14.1% were found to have conditions requiring treatment. In 1% of cases, serious diseases such as cardiovascular, metabolic issues, and even cancer were detected—none of these patients were aware of their illness beforehand.
Neko Health stands apart from traditional healthcare systems, which typically focus on treating already detected diseases. Instead, this startup focuses on prevention, using the data collected to assess the risk of developing diseases in the future. This way, doctors can recommend additional tests to provide a more accurate diagnosis before symptoms appear.
