Spotify’s founder raises $700M to scan America’s bodies

Signals Inbox·July 15, 2026·Consumer AI

Neko Health has raised $700 million to bring its preventive body scans to the US, starting in New York. The bigger signal is the speed: it went from roughly 10,000 completed scans in early 2025 to more than 100,000 today, while its reported valuation jumped from around $1.8 billion to nearly $7 billion.

Q1What actually happened?

Neko Health officially announced a $700 million Series C and said its first US clinics will open in New York and other cities in 2026. The company was co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne. It offers a one-hour preventive health assessment covering the heart, skin, blood and metabolic health.

Q2Why is $700 million such a big round?

Because this is not another app that can add millions of users by renting more cloud servers. Neko has to build clinics, manufacture medical equipment, hire clinicians and clear devices with regulators. The round is funding a physical rollout. It reportedly values Neko at nearly $7 billion, up from around $1.8 billion after its previous round in January 2025.

Q3Has the business really grown that quickly?

Yes. Neko had completed around 10,000 scans when it raised its Series B in early 2025. It now says more than 100,000 people have been scanned, with over 350,000 people joining its waitlists. It operates eight clinics across Sweden and the UK. That tenfold jump in completed scans helps explain why investors increased the valuation so aggressively.

Q4Is this the same as a full-body MRI?

No. Neko uses its own non-invasive scanners, sensors, blood tests and clinical measurements to check areas such as skin, circulation, heart function and metabolic risk. It does not produce the same deep internal images as a full-body MRI. The trade-off is price and speed: a UK Neko scan costs £299 and delivers results during the same visit, while premium MRI scans can cost well above $1,000.

Q5Why start with New York?

New York has wealthy consumers, major employers and a large private healthcare market, but it is also one of the most competitive places to sell preventive medicine. Prenuvo, Function Health and other longevity services already target similar customers. Neko is entering with a cheaper, more vertically integrated model built around its own clinics, hardware, doctors and software.

Q6So what is the real bet?

Neko is betting that an annual technology-led health check can become a normal consumer habit, not a luxury people buy once after seeing a celebrity post. The $700 million gives it enough capital to build clinics before the economics are fully proven. New York will test whether strong European demand can survive US prices, regulation and healthcare habits.