Why This Is Personal: My Family's Health Journey
My Health Journey:
For years, I experienced severe, relentless fatigue—not just during my menstrual cycle, but every single day. I had strange symptoms I couldn't explain: brain fog, weakness, brittle nails, cold hands and feet. Multiple doctors ran "standard iron tests" that came back normal. They dismissed my concerns, telling me I was just stressed or needed more sleep.
It took years of suffering before a physician finally tested my ferritin, B12, and comprehensive iron panel—revealing severe anemia that basic testing had completely missed. By then, my ferritin was so dangerously low I needed iron infusions and B12 shots just to function again. It took months of treatment before I felt like myself.
My Family's Health Journey:
- Both of my parents have battled cancer
- My father underwent open heart surgery
- My twin sister has Crohn's disease and deals with chronic inflammation and digestive issues
What All These Stories Have in Common:
We caught everything too late. We were always reactive, never proactive. We were testing the wrong things, at the wrong time, and missing the patterns that mattered. By the time we knew something was wrong, we were already in crisis mode.
🔬 The Science Behind What Function Lifelong Could Have Prevented:
For my anemia: Research shows ferritin levels below 30 ng/mL cause fatigue symptoms, but standard "iron tests" only check serum iron. Quarterly ferritin tracking with trend analysis would have caught my declining levels 2-3 years earlier, before severe depletion required IV treatment.
For my family's cancer: Studies show hereditary cancer risk increases 2-5x when multiple first-degree relatives are affected. Genetic testing (BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome panels) combined with family health linking would have identified our shared risk patterns, enabling earlier screening protocols and catch-rates up to 10 years sooner.
For my sister's Crohn's: Elevated fecal calprotectin and inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) often precede clinical Crohn's diagnosis by months or years. Gut microbiome diversity analysis combined with inflammation tracking could have identified dysbiosis and chronic inflammation patterns before irreversible intestinal damage occurred.
For my dad's cardiovascular event: Cardiac biomarkers (ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP, homocysteine) predict cardiovascular events 5-10 years in advance. Combined with HRV decline detected by wearables, we could have seen his risk trajectory and intervened with lifestyle modifications and preventive treatment before emergency surgery was needed.
This isn't just a product vision. This is what my family needed. This is what all families need.
If Function Lifelong existed when we needed it, my family's story would be different. We would have caught my anemia before I needed iron infusions. We would have known our cancer risks before diagnoses. We would have seen my sister's inflammation markers rising. We would have tracked my dad's heart health deteriorating.
We would have had time to intervene—before crisis, before suffering, before it was almost too late.
Health crises make you feel powerless. They strip away your sense of control. But preventive health gives that power back. It transforms fear into action, helplessness into hope. When you can see what's coming, you can change the outcome. That's not just healthcare—that's giving families their lives back.
🎯 The Opportunity
Transform Function from an episodic diagnostic platform into a living health ecosystem that drives daily engagement, expands Total Addressable Market (TAM) by 75%+, and creates viral network effects.
📲 Function Live
- Real-time wearable integration (Oura, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Whoop)
- CGM tracking (Levels, Dexcom, Stelo)
- Meal logging with biomarker impact
- AI biomarker estimation between labs
👨👩👧👦 Function Family
- Link family accounts (including children)
- Pediatric early disease detection
- Shared genetic risk dashboards
- Multi-generational health trends
- Coordinated preventive care
❤️ Function Heart
- EKG testing (no insurance referral needed)
- Stress test options
- Advanced cardiovascular panels
- Heart health monitoring
🌿 Function Environmental
- Mold exposure testing
- Comprehensive allergy panels
- Heavy metals screening
- Environmental toxin assessment
🦠 Function Gut
- Microbiome testing
- Oral microbiome (saliva testing)
- Inflammatory bowel markers
- Food sensitivity panels
👩 Function Women / 👨 Function Men
- Women: Period tracking, cycle-phase hormones, ferritin
- Men: Testosterone, prostate health, cardiovascular
- Both: Comprehensive hormone panels
🧠 Function Brain
- Digital cognitive assessments
- Blood biomarkers (homocysteine, omega-3)
- AI-powered analysis
- Alzheimer's risk screening
🏃 Function Performance
- VO₂ Max testing
- Metabolic rate analysis
- Performance biomarkers
- Training integration
🦴 Function Structure
- DEXA bone density scans
- Body composition analysis
- Osteoporosis risk
- Bone health tracking
✨ Function Skin
- Dermatological health markers
- Collagen/elastin biomarkers
- UV damage assessment
- Skin aging prevention
📊 Expected Impact
Key Metrics Transformation
- Daily Active Users (DAU): 30% → 70%
- Weekly Active Users (WAU): 60% → 90%
- Meal logs: 60-75% of users engage daily
- Period tracking: 80%+ of women users (massive unmet need)
- Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): $499 → $850
- Churn: ↓40% (continuous value vs episodic)
🚀 Ten Product Modules
- Wearable integration (Oura, Garmin, Apple Watch, Whoop, Samsung Galaxy Ring, RingConn, Ultrahuman)
- Smart bed integration (Eight Sleep, Sleep Number) - track sleep stages, temperature, HRV overnight
- Smart sleep mask integration (Manta Sleep, Lumos, BIA) - optimize sleep quality and circadian rhythm
- CGM integration (Levels, Dexcom, Freestyle Libre, Stelo) - see glucose response to meals in real-time
- Smart toilet/urine analysis devices (Withings U-Scan, Toi Labs) - daily hydration, ketones, UTI detection
- Stool analysis integration (emerging home testing devices) - gut health monitoring
- Meal logging with impact analysis (glucose spikes, inflammation markers, energy correlation)
- Period tracking with cycle-phase biomarker correlation (iron, hormones, energy, mood)
- AI biomarker estimation between lab tests
- Daily health score and personalized insights
The IoT Health Ecosystem: As health and wellness devices continue to evolve (smart mirrors, smart scales, air quality monitors, hydration trackers), Function Live becomes the central hub that makes sense of all your data—connecting dots between sleep, nutrition, hydration, environment, and biomarkers.
- Early cancer screening (colonoscopy, mammograms, liquid biopsies)
- Gut microbiome testing (ZOE, Viome integration for Crohn's/IBS detection)
- Comprehensive women's health panels (ferritin, B12, folate, hormones by cycle phase)
- Men's health panels (testosterone, PSA, cardiovascular markers)
- Genetic risk assessment (BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome, cardiovascular genes)
- Inflammatory bowel markers (fecal calprotectin, CRP, ESR)
- VO₂ Max testing (at-home or lab)
- Metabolic rate analysis (RMR, BMR)
- Training load integration (Strava, TrainingPeaks)
- Cortisol, testosterone, DHEA, growth hormone tracking
- Recovery optimization with HRV correlation
- Performance biomarkers (lactate, creatine kinase, myoglobin)
- Family account linking (up to 6 members, all ages including children)
- Pediatric early disease detection (catch developmental issues, genetic conditions early)
- Shared genetic risk dashboard (cancer, cardiovascular, autoimmune, developmental disorders)
- Multi-generational health trend analysis
- Hereditary disease screening recommendations
- Family health timeline visualization
- Coordinated preventive care alerts (screening schedules, risk factors)
- Privacy controls for each member
- Gut microbiome testing (quarterly via ZOE, Viome, Thorne)
- Oral microbiome testing (saliva analysis for teeth and gut health connection)
- Oral probiotics recommendations
- SIBO markers (hydrogen/methane breath testing)
- Inflammatory bowel disease markers (fecal calprotectin, CRP)
- Food sensitivity panels (IgG, IgA testing)
- Gut-brain-oral axis insights
- Digital cognitive assessments (Creyos, Linus Health, BrainCheck) - iPad-based memory, attention, executive function tests
- AI-powered process analysis (analyzes HOW you complete tasks, not just results)
- Olfactory testing (smell tests detect early Alzheimer's markers)
- Blood biomarkers (homocysteine, omega-3 index, CRP, IL-6, B-vitamins)
- Alzheimer's risk markers (APOE4 genetic testing, pTau-217, β-Amyloid)
- EEG monitoring (optional - brainwave analysis)
- Balance and eye movement tracking
- Period tracking with cycle-phase biomarker correlation
- Comprehensive hormone panels (estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH) by cycle phase
- Ferritin, B12, folate tracking (catch anemia early like I needed)
- PCOS screening (testosterone, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers)
- Endometriosis testing (blood/saliva markers - cutting-edge, huge unmet need)
- Fertility biomarkers (AMH, thyroid, prolactin)
- Perimenopause/menopause tracking (hormone fluctuations)
- Bone health (women at higher risk for osteoporosis)
- Testosterone optimization (free and total T, SHBG, DHT)
- Prostate health (PSA, digital exams, prostate-specific markers)
- Cardiovascular markers (ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP - men at higher risk)
- Metabolic health (insulin, glucose, HbA1c, visceral fat markers)
- Male fertility assessment (FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin)
- Erectile health biomarkers (vascular health, nitric oxide, blood flow markers)
- Mental health screening (depression, anxiety - men underdiagnosed)
- Hair loss markers (DHT, thyroid, nutritional deficiencies)
- Muscle health and sarcopenia prevention (vitamin D, protein metabolism)
- DEXA bone density scans (osteoporosis prevention)
- Body composition analysis (muscle mass, fat distribution)
- Bone health biomarkers (vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone)
- Joint health markers (inflammatory markers, uric acid)
- Collagen and elastin biomarkers
- Antioxidant levels (vitamin C, E, glutathione)
- UV damage markers
- Skin aging prevention recommendations
- EKG testing (electrocardiogram) - no insurance referral needed
- Stress test options (exercise or pharmacological)
- Advanced cardiovascular biomarker panels (ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen)
- Blood pressure monitoring integration
- Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis from wearables
- Calcium scoring (CT scan for arterial plaque)
- Vascular health assessment
- Cardiac risk stratification
- Mold exposure testing (mycotoxin panels - blood/urine)
- Comprehensive allergy panels (IgE testing for environmental allergens)
- Heavy metals screening (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium)
- Environmental toxin assessment (VOCs, pesticides, BPA)
- Indoor air quality markers
- Water quality testing (if applicable)
- Chemical sensitivity markers
- Detoxification pathway assessment
🏆 Competitive Advantage
Function Lifelong's Unique Edge
We're the ONLY platform that combines:
- ✅ Comprehensive biomarker panels (100+ markers quarterly, not just 50)
- ✅ Wearable integration (Oura, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Whoop, Ultrahuman, RingConn, CGMs)
- ✅ Longitudinal tracking with AI-powered insights and trend analysis
- ✅ Family health linking (including children) with shared genetic risk identification
- ✅ No monthly subscription for wearable data access (unlike Oura's $5.99/mo)
- ✅ Gender-specific health (Function Women with endometriosis testing + Function Men with comprehensive panels)
- ✅ Next-gen brain testing (digital cognitive assessments, AI analysis, olfactory testing)
- ✅ Cardiovascular access (EKG & stress tests without insurance referrals)
- ✅ Environmental health (mold, allergies, heavy metals - often ignored by traditional medicine)
- ✅ Preventive focus (catch problems years early, not react to crises)
We're the bridge between reactive healthcare and proactive wellness. We're the partner you need for 100 healthy years.
💰 Market Opportunity
The global health and wellness market is experiencing explosive growth. Valued at $6.87 trillion in 2025, the market is projected to reach $11 trillion by 2034 (5.4% CAGR). The preventive, personalized medicine segment is growing even faster, driven by increased health awareness, digital wellness solutions, and demand for proactive healthcare.
Target Audiences (75%+ TAM Expansion)
- Health-conscious millennials/Gen Z (25-45) seeking preventive care
- Women seeking comprehensive health tracking (period, ferritin, hormones)
- Families with hereditary health concerns (like mine)
- Athletes & biohackers (performance optimization)
- Chronic condition managers (Crohn's, IBS, cardiovascular risk)
- Performance optimizers (executives, entrepreneurs)
Revenue Model
- Subscription tiers (Basic/Premium/Elite)
- Add-on specialized modules (Function Gut, Brain, Performance)
- Family plan discounts (viral growth driver)
- B2B partnerships (gyms, wellness centers, employers)
- Data licensing (anonymized, ethical, opt-in)
- Enterprise wellness programs
Market data sources: Global Wellness Institute (2025), Precedence Research, Statista. TAM projections based on industry analysis and growth rates.
Let's Build the Future of Preventive Health
Function Health has the foundation. These expansions would make us the undisputed leader in comprehensive health tracking—catching problems before they start, supporting families across generations, and changing health trajectories for millions.
From your first test to your hundredth birthday.
One partner. 100 healthy years.
📚 Sources & Citations
Market Data:
• Global health and wellness market size ($6.87T in 2025, projected $11T by 2034): Precedence Research (August 2025), Global Wellness Institute
• Preventive healthcare segment growth rates: Statista, IMARC Group (2025)
• Corporate wellness market data: Industry reports (2024-2025)
Competitive Intelligence:
• Oura Health Panels launch: TechCrunch, Femtech Insider, ouraring.com (October 1, 2025) - 50 biomarkers for $99 via Quest Diagnostics
• Oura valuation ($11B+) and revenue ($500M+ in 2024): MobiHealthNews, Bloomberg (2025)
• Whoop Advanced Labs: TechCrunch (September 2025)
• Samsung Galaxy Ring, Ultrahuman Ring AIR, RingConn Gen 2 specs: Product documentation and tech reviews (2025)
• InsideTracker, ZOE, Viome capabilities: Company websites and tech reviews (2025)
Brain Health Technology:
• Digital cognitive assessments: Creyos (creyos.com), Linus Health (linushealth.com), BrainCheck (braincheck.com) - 2025 platforms
• AI-powered cognitive analysis: Linus Health DCTclock, Boston Process Approach methodology
• Olfactory testing for Alzheimer's: AROMHA Brain Health Test (Scientific Reports, March 2025)
• FDA-cleared blood biomarkers: Fujirebio's Lumipulse pTau-217/β-Amyloid test (May 2025)
• VR cognitive testing: MIT Lincoln Laboratory MINDSCAPE platform
Clinical & Scientific Data:
• Ferritin deficiency and fatigue symptoms: Medical literature on iron deficiency anemia
• Hereditary cancer risk statistics: American Cancer Society (2024), CDC genomics initiatives
• Inflammatory bowel disease biomarkers: Gastroenterology research on fecal calprotectin
• Cardiovascular biomarker predictive value: Cardiology journals on ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP
• Microbiome and Crohn's disease: Research on gut dysbiosis and inflammation
• Oral-gut microbiome connection: Dental and gastroenterology research
Personal Experience:
• All family health stories, medical journey details, iron infusion and B12 shot experiences are from my direct lived experience (2015-2025)