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Personal Genetics Startup 23andMe Raises $22 Million

21 points by michaelfairley 16y ago

michaelfairley 16y ago
23andMe is definitely looking for top-notch engineers. They're still running small (5 engineers 3 years in), so if you want to have a big impact on a potentially world-changing product, get in touch with them.
- bhickey 16y ago
  Sell it to me. What do you have to offer that say, Counsyl doesn't? Direct to consumer sales are dead/dying at the hands of the FDA. Gene patents look like they're getting legally thornier. So, what's your angle? How do you avoid a war to the realm of being a commodity?
  - checkoutmygenes 16y ago
    > Direct to consumer sales are dead/dying at the hands of the FDA. Not true - such rumors have been greatly exaggerated. >What do you have to offer that say, Counsyl doesn't? At the moment: Access to your whole genotype and a curated set of the published literature, rather than a narrow carrier screening. Deep ancestry analysis & finding long-lost cousins. A commitment to advancing the science of genetics. As the database grows, the insights we generate create more value for the end-user. http://tinyurl.com/246mw46 http://tinyurl.com/246mw46 In the future: There's lots of opportunity - come talk to us about it. >How do you avoid a war to the realm of being a commodity? genotyping is becoming commoditized, the interpretation of the A's, C's, G's and T's is not. We're in a sweet spot where rapidly falling costs: - let us offer our service at a lower cost to a broader market - improve the rates of discovery & create a more valuable interpretation We have an economy of scale which will allow us to: - negotiate lower costs - have a bigger database of potential relatives to meet - better interpret the meaning individual's genetics
- torme 16y ago
  I tried applying to them a while back with no dice. They seem like a really cool company to work for and I really like their product. It's disheartening to see their ads for engineers everywhere I go, but maybe I dont qualify as top-notch at this point.
  - stumm 16y ago
    You may have applied just as they had a round of layoffs. Don't take it personally. http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/29/layoffs-confirmed-at-23andme/ http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/29/layoffs-confirmed-at-23andm...
    - torme 16y ago
      Yeah, I think I applied a bit after that, maybe sometime in April of this year. Not taking it too personally, I'm only a few years out of school so I imagine there are some more experienced applicants.
- checkoutmygenes 16y ago
  Yes - we'd love to hear from interested engineers. If you have any questions, drop me a line mikep at 23andme
dejv 16y ago
Does anyone here try it?
- torme 16y ago
  I sat over the shoulder of a co-worker who tried it out when they ran their $100 deal a while back. From what I saw, which was probably close to 9 months ago, it's a pretty impressive tool. Lists off drug reactions, probable diseases, where you father's family was from etc, and provides references to studies that support those characteristics.
- Malcx 16y ago
  Yes, when they ran the $100 offer a while ago, both myself and my better half signed up. It's fantastic, we've both been in contact with 3rd and 4th cousins, for me they are from the US, South africa and Australia. I now know I'm prone to type II diabetes, so have cut down sugar intake and had reports on dozens of other health issues. I think the current prices are a bit steep, but if they do another offer @ $100 I'll be recomending to everyone I know!
  - bhickey 16y ago
    Your genetics are your own business, but since you mentioned it: what T2D mutation do you carry? One or two copies? How did they quantify and qualify your risk? I haven't spat in a tube for them, so I don't know what their reports look like.
- Luc 16y ago
  Yes. Signed up myself and my daughter on DNA-day (the $100 special price). I have only logged in a couple of times though. Our results were great in that there was nothing special about them, so I haven't been compelled to learn more about some exotic mutation.
  - sh1mmer 16y ago
    I also did it on DNA-day for my wife and I. Again, nothing special. However, I thought there were a few really interesting things such as highlighting particular drugs I might find less effective. While this technology (and the statistical base that is used for correlations) is in its infancy there are some really interesting possibilities with extremely real world applications above and beyond early warning systems for genetic vulnerabilities to certain diseases.
bluelu 16y ago
Thanks for sharing. I will apply. I already sent in my DNA a few months ago so they can already do the first prescrening on their site without both of us wasting time! ;)

23andMe is definitely looking for top-notch engineers. They're still running small (5 engineers 3 years in), so if you want to have a big impact on a potentially world-changing product, get in touch with them.

bhickey 16y ago
Sell it to me. What do you have to offer that say, Counsyl doesn't? Direct to consumer sales are dead/dying at the hands of the FDA. Gene patents look like they're getting legally thornier. So, what's your angle? How do you avoid a war to the realm of being a commodity?
- checkoutmygenes 16y ago
  > Direct to consumer sales are dead/dying at the hands of the FDA. Not true - such rumors have been greatly exaggerated. >What do you have to offer that say, Counsyl doesn't? At the moment: Access to your whole genotype and a curated set of the published literature, rather than a narrow carrier screening. Deep ancestry analysis & finding long-lost cousins. A commitment to advancing the science of genetics. As the database grows, the insights we generate create more value for the end-user. http://tinyurl.com/246mw46 http://tinyurl.com/246mw46 In the future: There's lots of opportunity - come talk to us about it. >How do you avoid a war to the realm of being a commodity? genotyping is becoming commoditized, the interpretation of the A's, C's, G's and T's is not. We're in a sweet spot where rapidly falling costs: - let us offer our service at a lower cost to a broader market - improve the rates of discovery & create a more valuable interpretation We have an economy of scale which will allow us to: - negotiate lower costs - have a bigger database of potential relatives to meet - better interpret the meaning individual's genetics
torme 16y ago
I tried applying to them a while back with no dice. They seem like a really cool company to work for and I really like their product. It's disheartening to see their ads for engineers everywhere I go, but maybe I dont qualify as top-notch at this point.
- stumm 16y ago
  You may have applied just as they had a round of layoffs. Don't take it personally. http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/29/layoffs-confirmed-at-23andme/ http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/29/layoffs-confirmed-at-23andm...
  - torme 16y ago
    Yeah, I think I applied a bit after that, maybe sometime in April of this year. Not taking it too personally, I'm only a few years out of school so I imagine there are some more experienced applicants.
checkoutmygenes 16y ago
Yes - we'd love to hear from interested engineers. If you have any questions, drop me a line mikep at 23andme

dejv 16y ago

Does anyone here try it?

torme 16y ago
I sat over the shoulder of a co-worker who tried it out when they ran their $100 deal a while back. From what I saw, which was probably close to 9 months ago, it's a pretty impressive tool. Lists off drug reactions, probable diseases, where you father's family was from etc, and provides references to studies that support those characteristics.
Malcx 16y ago
Yes, when they ran the $100 offer a while ago, both myself and my better half signed up. It's fantastic, we've both been in contact with 3rd and 4th cousins, for me they are from the US, South africa and Australia. I now know I'm prone to type II diabetes, so have cut down sugar intake and had reports on dozens of other health issues. I think the current prices are a bit steep, but if they do another offer @ $100 I'll be recomending to everyone I know!
- bhickey 16y ago
  Your genetics are your own business, but since you mentioned it: what T2D mutation do you carry? One or two copies? How did they quantify and qualify your risk? I haven't spat in a tube for them, so I don't know what their reports look like.
Luc 16y ago
Yes. Signed up myself and my daughter on DNA-day (the $100 special price). I have only logged in a couple of times though. Our results were great in that there was nothing special about them, so I haven't been compelled to learn more about some exotic mutation.
- sh1mmer 16y ago
  I also did it on DNA-day for my wife and I. Again, nothing special. However, I thought there were a few really interesting things such as highlighting particular drugs I might find less effective. While this technology (and the statistical base that is used for correlations) is in its infancy there are some really interesting possibilities with extremely real world applications above and beyond early warning systems for genetic vulnerabilities to certain diseases.

bluelu 16y ago

Thanks for sharing. I will apply. I already sent in my DNA a few months ago so they can already do the first prescrening on their site without both of us wasting time! ;)