THE ARISING · Markets & Strategy
Neko Health Brings $500 Body Scans to US With 300,000-Person Waitlist
Neko Health, the Swedish startup behind a one-hour preventive body scan, has opened in New York with a price tag of $500 and a global waitlist the company says tops 300,000 people.
The company was co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne. According to TechCrunch, it has raised nearly $1 billion in total. The scan screens for issues in the blood, skin and metabolism, and it uses computer vision as part of the process.
The pricing model is the key strategic detail. The $500 fee is not covered by insurance. According to TechCrunch, it should qualify as an acceptable expense for people with health savings accounts, or HSAs. That means Neko is selling directly to consumers, not to insurers or health systems. It avoids the slow work of winning coverage, but it also limits the market to people who can pay up front or use pre-tax health funds.
Farooq Abbasi of Preface Ventures, an investor in the company, argues the U.S. is a natural target. He told TechCrunch that people use preventive care less in the U.S. because of cost concerns. He said, "I think preventative care and healthcare should be cheap and accessible." Whether $500 meets that description is a fair question. The source does not say how Neko's price compares with other preventive services.
The product is also changing. Abbasi said his first scan included a blood test with 15 biomarkers. His most recent scan covered 55. He has been scanned twice and said he loves it. He said, "I think there should be Neko clinics everywhere." As an investor, he has a stake in the company's success, so his view should be read in that light.
Abbasi rejects the idea that Neko is another wellness fad. He says it gives people "actionable insights to make their lives better." The source offers no data on health outcomes, accuracy or cost savings. Those claims remain untested in the reporting.
The competitive and regulatory picture is still open. TechCrunch notes that Neko has a long way to go in the U.S., especially on scaling and regulatory approval. The company is eyeing expansion across the country. The source does not name specific regulators, rivals, new locations or timelines.
The waitlist figure is a company claim and covers a global audience. It shows demand for the concept, but it does not show how many people will pay $500, or how many will return for repeat scans. That repeat rate will matter for the business, since a one-time scan is a thin base for a clinic network.
What to watch next
Whether Neko names its next U.S. cities, how it handles regulatory approval, and whether it publishes evidence that its scans lead to better health outcomes.