A startup called Superpower is publicly launching what it calls the world’s first super-app that is designed to help people better understand and take care of their health.
For $499, the startup offers biannual lab testing that analyzes over 100 blood biomarkers across 21 categories, giving people a more comprehensive look at their health than a standard physical does. Members conduct these tests twice a year, either at home or one of Superpower’s 2,000 partner labs nationwide.
Superpower’s web app considers the results of these tests with past medical records, fitness trackers, and genetics and uses AI to create a personalized overview of your health to outline any possible concerns. The app then gives you an action plan to take control of your health.
The startup was founded in 2022 by Jacob Peters, Max Marchione, and Kevin Unkrich. The trio founded Superpower following their personal struggles with the healthcare system. Peters nearly lost his life after spending $2 million on medical bills battling several serious conditions that went undiagnosed by multiple specialists. Marchione faced decades of misdiagnoses from over 20 doctors, and Unkrich lost his best friend to a brain tumor in his teens — just two days before he was scheduled for an MRI.
They recognized that these aren’t isolated incidents, as 40% of Americans suffer from conditions that could have been identified and addressed earlier with the right information.
“There’s this big gap between the best of health care and what most people have access to,” Marchione told TechCrunch in an interview. “And we have believed for the past half a decade that for as long as that gap exists, someone or some company has to come along and close that gap. And six years ago, we didn’t think that was possible. Two to three years ago, when we started the company, we did realize it was possible with the advent of all sorts of new technologies such as AI.”
Superpower’s biannual lab testing helps people better understand different aspects of their health, including nutrient and mineral levels, and hormone balance. The company notes that these are factors that play a vital role in energy, fertility, and overall well-being. The testing also evaluates metabolic health, which is linked to the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, and other chronic illnesses.
Members can also get additional specialty tests, such as a gut microbiome analysis and a Grail cancer screening that can detect over 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear for additional fees.
The app’s Superpower Score and Biological Age features track overall health progress and identify specific areas that can be improved. Once members receive their personalized health results, they are connected to an integrated marketplace of healthcare service providers. Superpower also offers access to a 24/7 AI and human hybrid concierge care team that members can message for personalized guidance.
“This is really just where the journey starts,” Peters said. “So from here, Superpower becomes the new front door to the health care system, where, instead of dealing with the fragmented world of health care as it exists today, we bring everything under one roof so that people can effectively have, for the first time ever, a lifelong health partner.”
While Superpower isn’t looking to replace actual doctor visits, the startup wants Superpower to be the place people go when looking for answers to questions related to their health.
“The reality is that every single day there are a billion Google searches related to health,” Marchione said. “A lot of people go to ChatGPT before they go to care. And the reality is Google and ChatGPT are not that good at taking care of you. The question is, when someone is going to Google or ChatGPT, how can they come to us instead? We have all of their data. We know everything about medicine. We work with scientists and leading doctors around the world to aggregate the best of medical knowledge. And that’s the front door to health care. That’s the starting point, and that’s what we want to replace.”
Alongside the public launch, the company is announcing a $30 million Series A funding round led by Forerunner, with participation from notable celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens, Steve Aoki, and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Other investors include Day One Ventures, Susa Ventures, Long Journey Ventures, Family Fund, Opal Ventures, Valia Ventures, Visible Ventures, and Winklevoss Capital.
There are 150,000 people on Superpower’s waitlist. With this public launch, the startup is opening up the app to as many people as possible while calibrating demand.
Superpower’s platform is currently accessible through a web app, but the company plans to launch iOS and Android apps in the future.
