Daniel Ek's Neko Health Launches First US Clinic in New York City
The preventive health startup leverages a $700 million funding round to bring AI-driven body scanning technology to Manhattan.
Neko Health, the preventive medicine startup co-founded by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, is launching its first United States clinic in New York City. The facility is scheduled to open on September 24, 2026, located at 300 Lafayette Street in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.
The expansion follows a massive $700 million Series C funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and co-led by O.G. Venture Partners. This capital injection has pushed the company's valuation to approximately $7 billion, marking a steep climb from its $1.7 billion valuation in early 2025. The funding reflects strong investor confidence in the company's ability to scale its high-tech diagnostic model outside of its existing markets in Sweden and the UK.
The Preventive Approach
Founded in 2018 by Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, the Stockholm-based company aims to pivot healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Neko Health utilizes a proprietary, non-invasive body scanning system that images the skin, heart, and circulation. To provide a comprehensive health snapshot, the startup integrates this imaging data with traditional bloodwork and metrics from consumer fitness devices, using AI to identify potential health issues before they become critical.
Market Implications
The entry into the U.S. market represents a high-capital bet on the "consumerization" of preventive health. By establishing a luxury, high-tech diagnostic experience in an affluent urban hub like SoHo, Neko Health is attempting to bypass traditional primary care models. The strategy targets a demographic of wealthy urbanites willing to pay for comprehensive, data-driven health screenings that operate independently of the standard insurance-based healthcare system.
Future Outlook
While the September launch in New York serves as the company's American beachhead, the firm is looking to establish a broader footprint. The company has indicated plans to open additional locations within New York by the end of 2026. Observers will be watching to see if the high-cost, high-tech model can maintain its valuation growth as it transitions from a European boutique service to a scalable U.S. enterprise.