BetterCells Ltd has taken the next step in the evolution of its wellness hub, launching an update to the service that can match health-focused consumers with practitioners and diagnostic tests to probe their specific health risks.
The privately held company is based in Perth but has firmly set its focus on worldwide markets, with its latest investor presentation presenting the case for its ‘better mind, better body’ focus being a solution to a US$2.2 trillion healthcare crisis.
BetterCells is an online platform that aims to connect functional and integrative medical practitioners with people looking to improve their health.
A personal health implementation plan
Founder and managing director Andrew Haythorpe said the company’s system looked at a person’s risk factors and helped develop an implementation plan for how that person can approach his or her health going forward.
Site users fill in personal and family history health questionnaires and can upload their DNA downloaded from sites such as 23andme, Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.
By looking at history and personal results as well as DNA, BetterCells can help people wanting to counter their epigenetic risk factors and switch on or off the expression of a genetic aberration or disadvantage.
BetterCells’ platform allows users quick easy online consultations with their preferred practitioner from the comfort of their own home.
The system securely stores health data, providing individuals with more control over their own path to wellness.
People can look at their results on a BetterCells app or online
Budgeted buy-in
Haythorpe is a venture capitalist who holds a 21% stake in the company.
Seven other major shareholders hold another 29% of the company, including Magenta City Pty Ltd at 8%, Clariden Capital Pty Ltd (6%), Maldive Pty Ltd (5%), Manikato Financial Services Pty Ltd (5%), and A Cunningham and N Snooks (a joint 5%).
Haythorpe is fielding new investor inquiries while the company also explores a listing on the ASX, NASDAQ or Toronto exchanges.
The company’s budget features about $400,000 for an ASX listing or $1 million for a North American float.
BetterCells has also budgeted about $200,000 for artificial intelligence development, $1 million for accelerated coding and an app launch, $1 million for accelerating its launch in the US and $1 million for accelerating its Asian launch.
Among the newer developments the company is progressing this financial year are a compounding tool development, continued marketing in Australia and marketing in the US.
BetterCells' users can order a number of tests to check their health risks, including food and chemical sensitivities
BetterCells, better try
BetterCells’ Haythorpe has personally tried out the company’s health-focused portal and the testing services it delivers with laboratory partners.
He found his iodine, phosphate and selenium levels needed raising, and he had high levels of metals and mercury.
“I had a choice of either ignoring that or doing something about it,” Haythorpe said.
“The first question I had to ask myself is what’s the cost and what’s the benefits of doing something about it.”
He said the dollar cost was small, especially given addressing his highlighted issues could extend the number of years he had left to live his life.
“The cost in terms of health is not a lot in terms of life capital.
“When you look at the effect of toxicity and autoimmune inflammatory responses, and the absence of low essential elements, again it has substantial implications for quality of life and longevity.”
DNA your way
Haythorpe also took the results of the DNA test he had done at the DNA analysis website 23andme and uploaded it to BetterCells.
Like other alternative sites available to Australians, such as Promethease and LiveWello, BetterCells can flag health risks, but its focus is on serving up an action plan people can implement.
“There’s nothing I can do about my DNA,” he said.
“What I need is a BetterCells to step in and say ‘OK, let’s put this in context against all the other datasets and then here’s an implementation strategy — you’re born with your DNA but you’re going to run with it ... in this direction but not in that direction.
“This direction’s going to give you more bang for your buck, better results, better health and less trauma.”
Oligoscan hand-scan testing for minerals and metals load gives a range of specific data.
Data mine
Site users are encouraged to get as many tests done as possible to tackle their health, proactively and preventatively.
The BetterCells website also ranks the tests in priority categories, so users can order the most important tests first.
“People find out the risk (from the tests) and can manage away from that risk,” Haythorpe said.
Unlike other health information providers or government repositories, BetterCells lets users own their own data.
The hub is not integrated with Healthdirect Australia or any other government portals such as Medicare, avoiding the cost of integration and user concerns about their personal data integrity.
“The substantial growth in consumption of supplements and vitamins across the world is a pretty clear indication people are searching for a better solution,” Haythorpe said.
Better Cells is aiming to facilitate that solution
“With all this information, which is a vast amount of data, the immediate question is ‘What can I do’.”
BetterCells hopes to provide the answers.