ICarbonX explained

Native Name:iCarbonX(碳云智能)
Type:Private
Founded:October 2015
Founder:Jun Wang
Hq Location:Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Industry:Health Care, Genomics
Num Locations:2
Key People:Jun Wang
Website:www.icarbonx.com

iCarbonX is a company founded by Chinese genomicist Jun Wang, former CEO of Beijing Genomic Institute (BGI), in 2015. iCarbonX combines genomics with other health factors such as metabolites, bacteria and lifestyle choices to create a digitalized form of life.[1]

History

iCarbonX was founded on October 27, 2015. On September 10, 2016, iCarbonX acquired Imagu Vision Technologies, an Israeli AI and image processing company,[2] in order to establish an iCarbonX-Israel R&D center.[3]

On January 5, 2017, iCarbonX announced its Digital Life Alliance with seven other companies including SomaLogic, HealthTell, PatientsLikeMe, AOBiome, GALT, Imagu and Robustnique.[4]

iCarbonX has raised over $600 million in investment. Tencent Holdings Limited (owner of social-media app WeChat) and Zhongyuan Union Cell & Gene Engineering Corp. invested $200 million[5] in iCarbonX, which made iCarbonX one of only three Chinese healthcare startups with a valuation of more than $1 billion (considered a Unicorn). The company has about 100 employees.[6]

On January 5, 2017, iCarbonX released Meum, a digital health management platform.[7] On the same day, iCarbonX announced a partnership with PatientsLikeMe, an online network for patients with chronic conditions. iCarbonX funded PatientsLikeMe with $100M with plans for the two companies to work together on genetic sequencing projects.[8]

The company name, “iCarbonX,” symbolizes the use of the internet and artificial intelligence to improve life, of which a central element is carbon.[9] The “i” and “X” indicate the company's plans to combine the Internet and artificial intelligence to create something new.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alpha Unicorn iCarbonX Eyes 800M WeChat Users To Build Global Precision Health Giant – China Money Network. www.chinamoneynetwork.com. en-US. 2017-10-03.
  2. Web site: 2016-09-13 . Tencent-backed Chinese AI platform iCarbonX acquires Israel's Imagu Vision Technologies . 2022-12-07 . DealStreetAsia . en.
  3. News: China's iCarbonX Acquires Israel-Based Imagu For A.I. Technology. 2016-09-22. Asian Scientist Magazine Science, Technology and Medicine News Updates From Asia. 2017-10-03. en-US.
  4. Web site: Diagnostics World News. www.diagnosticsworldnews.com. 2017-04-11. 2017-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823160625/http://www.diagnosticsworldnews.com/2017/1/9/patientslikeme-joins-wangs-icarbonx-digital-life-alliance-cornerstone.aspx. dead.
  5. Cyranoski . David . 12 January 2017 . Chinese AI company plans to mine health data faster than rivals . Nature . 541 . 7636 . 141–142 . 2017Natur.541..141C . 10.1038/541141a . 28079091 . free.
  6. News: 2016-06-29 . How to Predict Your Body's Health With a Digital DNA Avatar . Bloomberg.com . 2017-10-03.
  7. Web site: iCarbonX Expands Digital Life Alliance to Accelerate Development of Global Health Ecosystem. www.businesswire.com. 5 January 2017. en. 2017-10-03.
  8. Web site: 2017-01-05 . PatientsLikeMe secures $100M, partners with health data company iCarbonX . 2023-12-12 . MobiHealthNews . en.
  9. Web site: 2015-10-30 . Is iCarbonX the next Google in Biotech? - Business - Chinadaily.com.cn . 2022-12-07 . chinadaily.com.cn.