Ketone-IQ explained

Health Via Modern Nutrition, Inc.
Founders:Geoffrey Woo, Michael Brandt
Location City:San Francisco
Area Served:United States
Industry:Nutrition
Type:Private

Ketone-IQ is an American company that specializes in manufacturing and distributing a ketone drink.[1] [2] [3] Previously known as Health Via Modern Nutrition, Inc or "HVMN," the company re-branded itself to Ketone-IQ in May 2024. [4] [5]

History

The company was founded as Nootrobox in 2014 by Geoffrey Woo and Michael Brandt.[6] While forming the company Woo was an Entrepreneur in residence at venture capital firm Foundation Capital,[7] while Brandt worked as a Google employee, a freelance photographer, and an adjunct professor at the Academy of Art University.[8] [9]

In October 2015, the company announced that Silicon Valley angel investors including Marissa Mayer and Mark Pincus had invested $500,000 in the company. In December 2015, Andreessen Horowitz led a $2 million venture capital round in the company. Chris Dixon, who has experience at companies like Soylent, led the investment for Andreessen Horowitz.

In August 2016, the company partnered with 7-Eleven locations in San Francisco. In January 2017, Woo and Brandt were named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Consumer Technology.[10] In June 2017, the company changed its name to H.V.M.N., which stands for "Health Via Modern Nutrition". In 2018, HVMN products affiliated with United States Special Operations Command were tested as part of Operation Tech Warrior hosted at the National Center for Medical Readiness. In 2023, HVMN launched in nationwide grocery retail in Sprouts Farmers Market.[11] In 2024, HVMN signed a 3 year partnership with Visma–Lease a Bike (men's team), a top UCI World Tour team.[12]

In 2024, the company re-branded itself to Ketone-IQ and ketone.com, which is the name of the company's primary product.

Studies and results

In November 2017, the company's first commissioned clinical trial found that one of its supplements was less effective in many ways than the caffeine (a cup of coffee) used as the control. The company then asked researchers to change the name of the product to distance it from the analysis.[13] [14] The company, however, linked to the study on their website as of 2018.[15]

On September 13, 2018, HVMN was the nutrition sponsor for cyclist Vittoria Bussi, who broke the UCI Hour record using HVMN Ketone drinks in the training run up and on the day of the world record. [16] In the 2019 Tour de France, multiple cycling teams including and confirmed use of ketone ester for performance and recovery. [17]

In 2019, the United States Special Operations Command awarded HVMN a $6M research contract for a two-phase study to investigate impact of ketones on soldier performance at altitude, in mountains, on fighter jets, and in space, and researching how ketones impact cognition, physiological reserve, and oxygen availability under stressors like hypoxia.[18]

Culture

In 2016 the company instituted a weekly intermittent fasting day for staff. This was in line with a fad among Silicon Valley companies and workers at that time to use biohacking techniques in the workplace.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Castro. Vicky. The 'Brain-Enhancing' Drugs That Are Sweeping Silicon Valley. Inc.com. 9 March 2015. 2015-03-05.
  2. Web site: Don't have time to drink your coffee? Chew it with Go Cubes. CNET. 14 September 2015.
  3. Web site: The Perks of Fasting, With None of the Work. The Atlantic. 17 November 2017. 2017-11-07.
  4. Web site: H.V.M.N. is Health Via Modern Nutrition. HVMN. 19 September 2019.
  5. Web site: Introducing ketone.com. Ketone-IQ. 29 June 2024.
  6. Web site: Buhr . Sarah . 2017-06-27 . Nootrobox is now HVMN and will sell biohacking products beyond nootropics . 2024-02-05 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  7. Web site: Perez. Sarah. Nootrobox Launches Its "Smart Drugs" Subscription Service. TechCrunch. 9 March 2015.
  8. Web site: D'ONFRO. JILLIAN. This Twenty-Something Ditched His Dream Job At Google And Now He Has A Startup That Sells Brain-Enhancing Pills. Business Insider. 9 March 2015.
  9. Web site: A Pair of Entrepreneurs Focuses on 'Nutrients for Your Brain' . June 18, 2015 . . June 18, 2015.
  10. Web site: Michael Brandt, 28, and Geoffrey Woo, 28 - undefined - 2017 30 Under 30: Consumer Technology . 2024-01-26 . Forbes . en.
  11. Web site: 2023-04-03 . Ketone-IQ Launches in Nationwide Grocery Retail . 2024-01-26 . BevNET.com . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2024-01-26 . Visma–Lease a Bike signs three-year partnership with Ketone-IQ . 2024-01-26 . CyclingUpToDate.com . en.
  13. News: Start-up makes millions selling 'brain hacking' pills, but its own study found coffee works better. Farr. Christina. 30 November 2017. CNBC.
  14. Caldenhove. S.. Sambeth. A.. Sharma. S.. Woo. G.. Blokland. A.. 2017-12-18. A Combination of Nootropic Ingredients (CAF+) Is Not Better than Caffeine in Improving Cognitive Functions. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. 2. en. 106–113. 10.1007/s41465-017-0061-0. 2509-3290. free.
  15. News: Lee. Dave. Inside Silicon Valley's quest to beat ageing. 2 February 2018. BBC News. 2018.
  16. News: Vittoria Bussi breaks Hour Record in second attempt within 48-hours. Cycling Weekly. 2018.
  17. News: Does Ketone Ester Supplementation Boost Cycling Performance?. Medscape. July 18, 2019.
  18. Web site: 2022-01-13 . H.V.M.N. Announces Ketone-IQ: The Next-Generation of Drinkable Ketones . 2024-01-26 . www.businesswire.com . en.