Athletigen Technologies Inc., the Halifax startup that owns the world’s largest sports genetic databank, has launched a product to help coaches, athletes and fitness enthusiasts improve performance through sports-related genetic analysis.
CEO Jeremy Koenig has been plotting a course to launch the product in conjunction with a genetic ancestry service offered by the world-leading, direct-to-consumer genetics provider, 23andMe. Hoping to engage 10,000 users before the end of the year, Athletigen aims to help people understand their athletic genetic strengths and weaknesses, so that they can improve their training regime.
“Our first version will allow anyone to compare their genetic traits with others and see where they fit relative to the world’s genetic landscape in terms of athletics,” said Koenig in an interview in Volta Labs in Halifax, where the company has an office. “If you have performance goals, we can let you know what to focus on. Or if you’re new to fitness, we can help guide your choices.”
Mountain View, Calif.-based 23andMe takes genetic samples from people and tells them their genetic ancestry. It now has about one million users. Athletigen launched its first version Wednesday and now allows these one million people to use their 23andMe data to generate an Athletigen profile.
The user data will be analyzed with Athletigen’s proprietary bioinformatic algorithm, which assesses many sports-related genetic markers. These new users will gain instant access to a genetic profile, which they can share with coaches or other people. They can use the information to enhance their training and fitness goals.
Though it is still beta testing the product, Athletigen gives users an online profile that compares their genetically encoded athleticism to other people from around the world. The service now provides such genetic information as willingness to exercise, power, anaerobic capacity, endurance, recovery, metabolism and injury protection.
“We want this to be simple to use, but it also has to have academic rigour so it will satisfy the demands of a PhD,” said Koenig, who received a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Dalhousie and did post-doctoral research at Cornell University.
The service will be free for the first 23andMe users and to anyone that wants to make a sample profile. Athletigen will make its money by providing administrative support and other services for coaches and sports doctors. “We’re meeting with the best coaches and health professionals in the world and helping them to understand their athletes,” said Koenig, adding that the company can build personalized administrative platforms for each coach.
In addition, Athletigen is planning to launch an intensive training course for coaches, so they can receive accredited certification in genetics-based training for athletes. There would be several levels of certification, including instructor. The instructors could offer these courses to other coaches, which would allow Athletigen to scale its business as more and more coaches are certified.
The company, which incorporated earlier this year, now has five members of its executive team. So far, it’s received some funding from various government bodies, such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
In addition, Athletigen is one of the semifinalists in the BioInnovation Challenge, the pitching competition this month for Atlantic Canadian biotech companies.
The company aims to raise its first equity investment in the next year with a target of about $3 million.
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