Signos raises $20 million to sprinkle AI fairy dust on the weight loss industry

Signos, a metabolic health platform that utilizes a unique AI-engine with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to offer real-time data and recommendations for healthy weight management, has announced a successful $20 million Series B funding round. The round was led by Cheyenne Ventures and GV (Google Ventures), with additional investments from Dexcom Ventures and Samsung. It will enable Signos to expand its team, extend its platform and conduct further research on metabolic health.

Signos set itself the mission of addressing the obesity and metabolic health crisis that currently afflicts the United States. With more than 96 million Americans prediabetic and an estimated 1 billion people projected to have diabetes by 2050, the company says the need for early detection and lifestyle changes is more critical than ever.

The Signos app allows users to log their food intake and exercise levels, enabling the AI platform to learn how an individual’s metabolism responds to various foods and fitness patterns. This information then provides personalized, data-driven recommendations based on an individual’s unique metabolic profile.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, CEO of Signos, shared his motivation behind the company. Having struggled with his weight since childhood, Fouladgar-Mercer understands the challenges of weight loss and the inefficacy of a one-size-fits-all diet. His experiences inspired him to leverage CGM technology to extend the benefits of glucose insight to a broader population, including those living with Type 2 diabetes.

“This new round of funding will allow us to expand our core team and platform and conduct additional research on metabolic health. The funding will allow us to reach more prospective members,” said Fouladgar-Mercer.

However, challenges remain, the company says. Hiring suitable candidates and making the Signos platform widely available, particularly with the relatively high cost of CGM technology, are key areas of focus for the company. Despite these challenges, Fouladgar-Mercer remains optimistic, stating, “We’re excited to continue to build something that can change lives for the better.”

There’s been quite a bit of interesting movement in this space recently. At TechCrunch Disrupt this year, we saw HME Square bringing photo-acoustics to the table as a way of measuring blood glucose without needing to penetrate the skin with a filament — much like Scanbo, which I covered almost two years ago. There are a number of other startups in this space as well, including Limbo. Ultimately, I think this competition and race to innovation is going to serve the customers wanting to keep a closer eye on their metabolic health.

I was curious whether the CEO’s work on Signos had made him adapt his personal habits.

“Yes and no. I love to bake sourdough bread in my free time (yes, you can eat bread when you’re planning for a glucose-friendly diet),” Fouladgar-Mercer said. “But, when I do bake, I try to plan when I eat bread so I can do a short walk after to mitigate the glucose spike as needed. I think the key is not avoiding all carbs; it’s figuring out a sustainable diet and exercise plan that works for your unique metabolism.”

With this new injection of funds, Signos claims it is well-positioned to continue its pioneering work in metabolic health and weight management, providing a much-needed solution to a growing health crisis.