Why we invested in Signos, a comprehensive metabolic health platform
It is estimated that 75% of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. Traditional weight loss methods have consistently fallen short in their ability to address obesity. In addition, in the United States alone, a staggering 96 million individuals find themselves prediabetic, and it’s predicted that 1 billion people worldwide may grapple with diabetes by the year 2050.
Many people embarking on their weight loss journey have experienced the frustrating limitations of conventional approaches. These methods often revolve around simplistic mantras like “eat less and move more,” which, while theoretically sound, frequently prove insufficient for sustainable weight loss. The problem lies in the oversimplification of the complex factors that contribute to obesity. It’s not merely about reducing caloric intake and increasing physical activity; it’s about understanding the intricate interplay of genetics, metabolism, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
At Samsung Next, we recognize the power of wellness as a pathway to improved health outcomes and believe in integrating nutrition as part of a comprehensive healthcare approach. Weight loss solutions, particularly for nondiabetics, are more often than not considered to be wellness offerings. However, we believe nutrition should also be viewed as a healthcare solution to improve clinical outcomes.
Signos, with its early detection methods and straightforward lifestyle adjustments, provides a metabolic-focused solution that can assist individuals on their weight loss journeys. By combining continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology with an AI-driven app, Signos delivers real-time glucose monitoring and personalized nutrition suggestions. Members receive a kit with a CGM and access to the app for the duration of their subscription, which learns individual glucose reactions to food, helping members make informed decisions about their diet and exercise in real time.
We invested in Signos because we believe their vast dataset of nondiabetic glucose data can offer clinical wellness solutions that both address the needs of today, and can help unlock future solutions for a broader segment of the population. Signos boasts a remarkable team, led by co-founder and CEO Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer. Sharam’s journey to address weight management stems from personal experience, and his professional background in data science and venture capital makes him well-suited to lead this endeavor. Co-founder Will Dixon’s medical expertise, having worked in various clinical roles, and CMO Hannah Russin’s growth and marketing acumen from her time at Lyft and Embark Veterinary, further strengthen Signos’ leadership and potential.
Our investment in Signos underscores the need for an effective weight management solution that counters today’s limitations of high costs, side effects, and poor long-term efficacy. We’re excited to back Signos and believe the company’s real-time, data-driven monitoring capabilities will propel it to become the best in class non-medication weight loss solution in the market.
Caroline O’Connor is an investor at Samsung Next. Fellow investor Rameen Rana supported this investment. Samsung Next’s investment strategy is limited to its own views and does not reflect the vision or strategy of any other Samsung business unit, including, but not limited to, Samsung Electronics.