• Nucleus Genomics has raised a $14 million Series A, bringing its total funding to $32 million.
  • Backers include Founders Fund, Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, Balaji Srinivasan, and SpaceX alum Achal Upadhyaya.
  • Nucleus offers genetic sequencing for $400, a significant drop from the $1 million cost in 2007.
  • Founder Kian Sadeghi predicts that genome sequencing will soon become nearly free and widely accessible via smartphones.

Nucleus Genomics, a controversial genetics testing startup, has secured a $14 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to approximately $32 million. Investors, including Founders Fund, Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, Balaji Srinivasan, and SpaceX alum Achal Upadhyaya, are backing founder Kian Sadeghi’s vision of making genetic testing widely accessible.

The company’s platform allows users to sequence their DNA from a saliva sample and compare the results to extensive genetic health data. Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov recently used Nucleus’ dashboard to analyze his genetic predispositions, discovering risks for schizophrenia, a high IQ, and prostate cancer within seconds.

The founder, Sadeghi, envisions a future where genetic data drives personalized medicine, couples screen their DNA before having children, and even dating apps offer “kid simulations” that predict potential offspring’s genetic traits.

“DNA is actually the kind of ultimate health test,” Sadeghi said, adding that Nucleus currently analyzes over 800 conditions, a number set to grow rapidly.

The plummeting cost of genome sequencing fuels Nucleus’ ambitions. While sequencing once cost nearly $1 million in 2007, Nucleus now offers the service for $400, covering both sequencing and analysis. Sadeghi predicts that in five years, genome sequencing will be practically free, making personal DNA data as accessible as a smartphone app.

The startup’s mission is personal for Sadeghi, who was driven to create Nucleus after his cousin died from an undiagnosed genetic condition. His journey led him to Silicon Valley’s top investors, including Peter Thiel, whom he met at Hereticon—a gathering known for embracing controversial ideas.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah