FoodMarble Targets Profitability as Demand Grows for Gut Health Tech
Dublin-based healthtech company FoodMarble is on track to achieve profitability by the end of this year, driven by increasing demand for its innovative breath-testing technology to diagnose digestive issues. Founded in 2016 by Aonghus Shortt and Peter Harte, the company has made significant strides in the healthcare sector with its groundbreaking device.
The FoodMarble device serves as a ‘digestive companion,’ helping users understand how their body processes different types of food. This information enables individuals to make informed dietary changes, while also providing healthcare professionals with valuable diagnostic insights. The technology has garnered significant interest in the US healthcare market, particularly among gastro-specialists and healthcare systems.
Shortt’s journey to developing FoodMarble began when his then-girlfriend (now wife) experienced persistent digestive issues. Despite consulting multiple doctors and undergoing various tests, she found little relief. Shortt, driven by his engineering background and access to research literature, explored breath testing as a potential solution. He built a basic prototype and began using it to help his partner understand her digestive health.
“She was having a tough time with digestion. She had no idea what was driving it and had gone to a string of doctors, got lots of tests, with no help. It was curtailing her social life and work. I had access to research literature and thought about what could help,” Shortt explained.
This personal experience led to the development of FoodMarble’s innovative technology. One of the company’s key findings has been the discrepancy between patients’ perceived food triggers and actual test results. For instance, many people believe dairy products cause digestive issues, but testing reveals it’s often not the case.
“There’s such a mismatch between what we often think is the issue and what the issue actually is. Digestion is complicated,” Shortt noted.
With support from Enterprise Ireland and having been part of the high potential start-up unit (HPSU), FoodMarble has made significant progress. The company’s focus is now on expanding its presence in the US market and developing a longer-term usage model for its technology.
As FoodMarble continues to grow, its innovative approach to managing digestive health is set to make a significant impact in the healthcare sector, particularly in the US where it has already seen substantial uptake among specialists and healthcare systems.
