The Catalan startup Exheus has developed a technology that optimizes physical performance and health by analyzing a blood sample. The company uses artificial intelligence to study gene expression and generate a personalized report with recommendations on nutrition and healthy lifestyle guidelines, contributing to improved well-being and the prevention of health problems.

Exheus has been a beneficiary of ACCIÓ’s Startup Capital grant, provided by the Department of Business and Knowledge’s agency for business competitiveness. The startup has received €75,000, which can be used to finance activities related to executing its initial business plan. This includes covering personnel expenses, investing in materials and equipment, renting spaces, developing marketing and communication strategies, and receiving guidance from a mentor accredited by ACCIÓ.

This startup has developed a solution capable of sequencing ribonucleic acid (RNA) from a small blood sample. This enables the identification of gene expression in over 320 metabolic pathways, which act as biomarkers for the individual’s physical parameters. With this technology, Exheus can analyze any irregularities and help improve and prevent health issues.

According to Exheus’ CEO and co-founder, Teresa Tarragó, “We provide the most advanced health report in the world, showing all the genes being expressed in a blood sample. It’s a snapshot of what’s happening in your body at a specific moment.”

For the entrepreneur, the personalized report provided by Exheus “includes specific recommendations to improve health based on altered indicators, enabling improvements to be seen in just two or three months.”

One of the main goals of Exheus’ technology is to enhance recovery from sports injuries in high-performance settings and reduce their occurrence. Through Exheus Blue Boost, the activation of genes affecting athletic performance is detected and corrected. So far, the startup has validated the technology in various sports disciplines and is already conducting pilot phases with some of the top European clubs and sports centers.

In addition to its application for high-performance athletes, Exheus also offers a version aimed at individuals seeking to improve their nutrition and well-being: Exheus Nutri Diet. In this case, the personalized report is accompanied by expert advice to develop healthy lifestyle habits and discounts on subsequent reports to track improvements.

Exheus was founded in June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, through The Collider, the innovation program of Mobile World Capital Barcelona. It is a spin-off of the Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau – IIB Sant Pau and the UPC’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (CREB). The company now has a team of eight and operates out of Pier01 in Barcelona and the Tecnocampus in Mataró.