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June 21, 2023 : Alba Health, a Danish-Swedish start-up focused on providing digital gut health support for children, has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding in a round led by Voima Ventures. Other participants include Octopus Ventures, Noaber, Bust VC, Joyance Partners, and the cofounders of Oura. This latest funding comes after Alba Health received $500,000 in financial support from the BioInnovation Institute in 2023, bringing the total financing to $2.5 million.
Founded in 2022 by former BCG manager Eleonora Cavani and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Willem M de Vos, Alba Health recognizes the connection between gut health in early childhood and common symptoms like colic and sleep disruption, as well as chronic conditions later in life, such as allergies, asthma, obesity, and diabetes.
Microbiome science, which explores the body’s microbial communities, has gained attention from prominent figures like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, who see it as the next medical and health revolution. Research on the human microbiome has expanded significantly in the past 15 years, resulting in the recent FDA approval of the first two microbiome-based drugs.
Alba Health aims to empower families to achieve a healthy lifestyle while gathering anonymized data to advance chronic disease prevention. A survey conducted by the company revealed that over 80% of European and American parents desire more science-driven advice on lifestyle and nutrition for their children. Alba Health’s research indicates that more than 50% of babies experience gut symptoms, over 20% have colic, and 40% of school-aged children have allergies, often unresolved.
Alba Health’s cofounder, Eleonora Cavani, emphasizes the need for innovation in child health, particularly regarding gut-related symptoms that cause distress for both parents and children. Chronic diseases affect 40% of school-aged children in the U.S., highlighting the urgency to advance chronic disease prevention.
The company collaborates with the University of Helsinki’s Health and Early Life Microbiota (HELMi) cohort, a renowned study on early life microbiome and child health. Alba Health’s commitment to scientific foundations enables them to provide evidence-based support to parents. The recent funding will be utilized to launch the company’s primary product: digital gut health support for children, combining AI and gut microbiome testing. The goal is to offer parents a gut microbiome test specifically designed for children, providing personalized diet recommendations to optimize health and reduce long-term health risks.
Investors, including Petteri Lahtela from Oura and Jussi Sainiemi from Voima Ventures, highlight Alba Health’s science-based approach and its potential to improve the well-being and health of newborns and their parents. The company’s strong team, blending commercial and academic backgrounds, positions them well to address the growing interest in babies’ gut health with scientifically backed solutions.
