Neko Health Body Scan Lands in US: $500 Scan, 300K Waitlist

Neko Health Comes to America

Neko Health, the body scan startup co-founded by Spotify's David Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, has officially arrived in the United States. The company, which was founded in Sweden, just landed in New York, marking a significant step in its global expansion.

The startup has raised nearly $1 billion in total funding, and its global waitlist has already topped 300,000 people, according to the company. That level of demand suggests substantial curiosity about its advanced scanning technology, which screens for issues in the blood, skin, and metabolism.

TechCrunch sat down with Farooq Abbasi of Preface Ventures, an investor in the company, who hopes Neko Health can become the future of preventative medicine, particularly in a country like the United States, where the medical system is notoriously plagued with issues. Abbasi has been scanned twice already and says he loves it.

What the Scan Screens For

Neko Health’s scan relies on advanced technology to screen for issues across three broad areas: the blood, the skin, and metabolism. Rather than a single-purpose test, it is designed to surface a wide range of signals in one sitting.

The blood panel, in particular, has expanded dramatically. Investor Farooq Abbasi of Preface Ventures, who backed the company, has been scanned twice. He recalled that in his first scan, the blood test covered 15 biomarkers. By his second scan, that number had grown to 55.

Neko also leans on advanced computer vision for its scans. Abbasi views this as another example of how AI is improving the medical sector overall. He argues that Neko Health isn’t just another wellness fad, but something that gives people “actionable insights to make their lives better.”

The $500 Price and Preventative Care in the US

Neko Health charges $500 for its one-hour scan. That fee is not covered by insurance, but according to the company, it should qualify as an acceptable expense for those who have Health Savings Accounts.

Investor Farooq Abbasi of Preface Ventures frames that price against a broader problem. He contends that preventative care utilization is low in the United States because people have concerns about how much it costs. In other words, the barrier is often the bill rather than the technology.

Abbasi's position is straightforward: "I think preventative care and healthcare should be cheap and accessible," he said. That view shapes his hope for Neko Health, which he believes can be the future of preventative medicine, particularly in a country where the medical system is notoriously plagued with issues.

He has been scanned twice already and says he loves it, adding, "I think there should be Neko clinics everywhere." Whether a $500 scan can help shift U.S. preventative care habits remains an open question as the company eyes expansion across the country.

Investor Optimism and US Expansion Hurdles

Preface Ventures investor Farooq Abbasi has been scanned twice and hopes Neko Health becomes the future of preventative medicine. “I think there should be Neko clinics everywhere,” he said, adding that the product has grown considerably since his first scan. He argues Neko isn’t just another wellness fad but something that gives people “actionable insights to make their lives better.”

Yet Neko still faces significant hurdles in the United States, particularly around scaling and regulatory approval. The company is currently eyeing an expansion across the U.S., but the path forward is far from straightforward.

Abbasi remains an optimist. He hopes more venture dollars will pour into the right companies and doesn’t think anything is too broken to fix.