uBiome provides direct access to cutting edge scientific research to the public to let people understand their health and contribute to scientific progress.
uBiome provides two primary services. The new SmartGut test, the world’s first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, delivers specific information to doctors and their patients about gut taxa that are critical to gut health. uBiome Explorer kits provide the public with direct access to state-of-the-art tools to learn more about their microbiome and enable citizen scientists across the world to conduct their own experiments.
Our mission is to explore important research questions about the microbiome and to develop accurate and reliable clinical tests based on the microbiome.
What’s the human microbiome?
We are all covered in trillions of microbes. These microorganisms live in and on us and are collectively called the microbiome. Like the rainforest, the healthy human microbiome is a balanced ecosystem. The correct balance of microbes keeps potential pathogens in check and regulates our immune system. Microbes also perform essential functions such as digesting food and synthesizing vitamins. Studies have also linked the microbiome to human mood and behavior, as well as many gut disorders, eczema, and chronic sinusitis.
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is scientific research conducted by nonprofessional scientists, often by crowdsourcing. Traditionally, citizen scientists contributed to scientific endeavors by collecting and analyzing data. uBiome takes citizen science to the next level by providing access to cutting edge research tools that directly address the latest questions in biomedical research. In addition, citizen science projects encourage engagement in scientific research and public understanding of science.
uBiome provides two primary services. The new SmartGut test, the world’s first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, delivers specific information to doctors and their patients about gut taxa that are critical to gut health. uBiome Explorer kits provide the public with direct access to state-of-the-art tools to learn more about their microbiome and enable citizen scientists across the world to conduct their own experiments.
Our mission is to explore important research questions about the microbiome and to develop accurate and reliable clinical tests based on the microbiome.
What’s the human microbiome?
We are all covered in trillions of microbes. These microorganisms live in and on us and are collectively called the microbiome. Like the rainforest, the healthy human microbiome is a balanced ecosystem. The correct balance of microbes keeps potential pathogens in check and regulates our immune system. Microbes also perform essential functions such as digesting food and synthesizing vitamins. Studies have also linked the microbiome to human mood and behavior, as well as many gut disorders, eczema, and chronic sinusitis.
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is scientific research conducted by nonprofessional scientists, often by crowdsourcing. Traditionally, citizen scientists contributed to scientific endeavors by collecting and analyzing data. uBiome takes citizen science to the next level by providing access to cutting edge research tools that directly address the latest questions in biomedical research. In addition, citizen science projects encourage engagement in scientific research and public understanding of science.
Employees: 51-200
Phone: +1 844-248-5432
Total raised: $109.5M
Founded date: 2012
Investors 4
| Date | Name | Website |
| 21.07.2020 | Y Combinat... | ycombinato... |
| - | Milliways ... | milliwaysv... |
| - | 500 Startu... | 500.co |
| - | CSC UpShot... | csc-upshot... |
Funding Rounds 3
| Date | Series | Amount | Investors |
| 21.09.2018 | Series C | $83M | - |
| 02.11.2016 | Series B | $22M | - |
| 18.08.2014 | - | $4.5M | a16z |
Mentions in press and media 43
| Date | Title | Description |
| 05.07.2019 | The precipitous decline of once-promising microbiome startup uBiome | uBiome sought to harness this fact with a fecal test that purported to help people educate themselves and takes steps to improve their microbiome health. That pitch was attractive to investors and the company raised more than $100 million f... |
| 05.06.2019 | A renowned Harvard geneticist and MacArthur 'genius' were among the 75 scientist advisors for embattled $600 million poop-testing startup uBiome. But 'they were pretty much there for show.' | Advertisement uBiome uBiome is a microbiome testing startup in San Francisco. uBiome is a San Francisco startup that specializes in tests for the microbiome, a set of bacteria in your body tied to human health. The FBI raided uBiome's offic... |
| 07.05.2019 | Term Sheet –Tuesday, May 7 | PROFITABLE UNICORNS & MORE The IPO hysteria continues. Ride-hailing startup Gett raised $200 million in a mix of debt and equity at a post-money valuation of $1.5 billion. Investors include Volkswagen, Access, Kreos, and MCI. Paid Conte... |
| 02.05.2019 | uBiome appoints general counsel as interim CEO; founders placed on leave | The move follows a raid on the company’s offices last week by the FBI, originally reported last week by The Wall Street Journal. CNBC reported that federal agents had broken down the company’s door, while employees were asked to hand over t... |
| 17.04.2019 | As researchers pursue links between bacteria and human health, startups stand to benefit | In 2009, the National Institutes of Health launched a five-year, $150 million project to stimulate research into a new field of medicine examining the connections between the millions of bacteria living in the human gut and overall human he... |
| 04.01.2019 | Up to $818 million deal between J&J and Locus Biosciences points to a new path for CRISPR therapies | The up to $818 million deal between Locus Biosciences and Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a division of Johnson & Johnson) that was announced yesterday points toward a new path for CRISPR gene editing technologies and (potentially) the whole f... |
| 12.11.2018 | Y Combinator is Hiring a Visiting Partner in the Life Sciences | YC started funding bio companies in 2011 and since then the number of bio companies we’ve funded per batch has risen exponentially, now over 141 in total. The most recent batch was 25% bio, by far the highest ever. Some of the notable life ... |
| 21.09.2018 | uBiome is jumping into therapeutics with a healthy $83 million in Series C financing | 23andMe, IBM and now uBiome is the next tech company to jump into the lucrative multi-billion dollar drug discovery market. The company started out with a consumer gut health test to check whether your intestines carry the right kind of bac... |
| 21.09.2018 | Biotech Startup uBiome Raises $83M to Expand World’s Largest Human Microbiome Database | uBiome, a microbial genetics company leveraging artificial intelligence to develop wellness products, clinical tests, and therapeutics based on the microbiome, today announced it has raised $83 million in Series C funding. The round was led... |
| 21.09.2018 | Term Sheet — Friday, September 21 | ‘WHO CARES’ Happy Friday, Term Sheet readers. Paid Content What you need to know about growing cyberattacks From ExtraHop In a Medium post (with a photo too dramatic for a post on venture capital), Palihapitiya explains that it became “easi... |
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