Active in the SBIR arena for about a decade - last NIH dollars in 2016, 23andMe, Inc. (NASDAQ:ME) operates as a personal genetics company enabling users to study their ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits. Operating as a privately held firm until Jun 17, 2021 when the firm went public through a merger with a Richard Branson SPAC, VG Acquisition Corp., in a deal that raised near-$600 million and valued the company at $3.5B. The firm offers Users the option to search and explore genes contributing to their personal characteristics eg lactose intolerance, athletic ability, and food preferences; learn how the research studies relate to their genomes; compare their profiles to family and friends; and to discover their genetic roots, as well as to gain insights into their ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits. The firm's tools also enables users to understand their own genetic information using DNA analysis technologies and Web-based interactive tools. The vision for 23andMe is described as personalizing healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research.
