The High-Tech Mirror: Neko Health Brings Body Scanning to Manhattan
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
As Daniel Ek's startup expands into the U.S., the line between clinical diagnostic leaps and luxury wellness experiences continues to blur.
Opinion: The arrival of Neko Health in the United States marks the latest escalation in a high-stakes race to commoditize preventative health scanning. As TechCrunch first reported, the startup—co-founded by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and CEO Hjalmar Nilsonne—will open its first American office on September 24 at 300 Lafayette Street in SoHo, an area described as the hub of luxury shopping in Manhattan.
Neko Health utilizes proprietary body-scanning technology integrated with bloodwork and data from fitness wearables. The scale is significant; following a $700 million Series C funding round last month, Neko claimed 100,000 individuals had already undergone scans. Demand in the U.S. appears immediate, with over 25,000 New Yorkers already on a waitlist, per TechCrunch.
Neko is not alone in merging medical imaging with high-end consumer experiences. TechCrunch notes a cluster of longevity firms pursuing similar goals, including Midjourney—the AI lab known for image and video generation—which plans to launch its own body scanner in San Francisco in 2027. Other players include Fountain Life, founded by Peter Diamandis and Tony Robbins, and Function Health, co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, which acquired the startup Ezra to add body scans to its offerings. Function Health's growth is further fueled by a $450 million loan from General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund.
As these companies proliferate, the question remains whether these tools offer a genuine diagnostic breakthrough or serve as expensive vanity mirrors. While Neko previously secured $260 million at a $1.8 billion valuation, the integration of scanners into luxury shopping districts suggests a pivot toward wellness lifestyle branding rather than traditional clinical practice.