Digital health company Prenetics has launched DNA testing kits that enable consumers to identify their risk of certain cancers and find the optimal diet and exercise regimen based on their genetics. Co-founder and CEO Danny Yeung tells Generation T why he wants to help people take control of their own health
Most start-ups aim to change lives, but Prenetics is going one step further by hopefully saving them. Four years ago, Generation T honouree Danny Yeung had no medical training but spotted a gap in the market in the rapidly evolving arena of home DNA tests. People he knew were taking these tests to map their family tree—but he noted they were far less likely to look into their health.
Genetic testing that shows us which cancers we have an inherited weakness for can allow us to make lifestyle changes that could beat our fate. The most famous example of someone taking control of their health in such a way is actress Angelina Jolie, who had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which put her at an 80-87 percent chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer over the course of her lifetime. Equally, finding out our body's dietary sensitivities and nutrient needs, and making the requisite lifestyle changes, can substantially improve our overall health.
And at the forefront of DNA testing to help improve your health is serial entrepreneur Danny Yeung. The previous CEO of Groupon for East Asia arrived on the medical scene with no prior knowledge of the industry, but he has gone on the create one of the largest genetic testing companies in the world.
Since launching in 2014 the company has focused on its B2B offerings, with over US$50 million in funding from the likes of Alibaba and Ping An propelling its growth. In November 2018, Prenetics launched its first consumer-facing DNA kits under a new brand, Circle.
Yeung wants to give everyone the power to control their own health. He is determined to change the way we relate to illness, shifting the focus to prevention and taking a tailored approach that accounts for each person’s unique genetic profile and health needs. For the entrepreneur, this includes tests on both himself and his daughter—with the upshot being that he's had to change his own lifestyle in a bid to steer clear of colon cancer. We speak to him about his journey.