Introducing Platos 3.0: Why proactive health is the future and our $1.4M fundraise

Today, I'm excited to announce Platos Health's evolution—Platos 3.0—into a proactive and preventive health economy. We've also closed our $1.4 million pre-seed financing, which included support from Google for Startups, Invest International, and experienced angel investors from global innovators such as Google, Tesla, and Unicredit. This milestone underscores our commitment to addressing chronic health risks linked to excess body fat and metabolic disorders.

Our Journey: From Diabetes Management to Prevention

When we founded Platos in 2020, we launched Nigeria’s first fully digital diabetes care solution, Zest, successfully serving thousands of users and earning recognition through partnerships and publications in the International Journal of Diabetes and Technology (IJDT).

However, scaling impact required broader collaboration, prompting us to expand into remote patient monitoring with prominent Nigerian institutions like the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Chronicare (affiliated with ISN, Roche’s largest distributor in Nigeria), and AIICO Health Insurance.

Uncovering Hidden Health Risks

In analyzing data from our users, we identified significant underlying issues:

• 68% of our customers were overweight or obese (mean BMI: 28.7 kg/m²).
• Only 3.8% had ideal fat mass levels.

This data revealed a critical issue: excess body fat, especially visceral fat, significantly increases risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome—even among slim individuals. Notably:

• 34% of individuals with normal BMI had unhealthy levels of body fat.
• 31% showed signs of "lean diabetes," a condition affecting individuals with normal weight but dangerous internal fat levels.

Why a Proactive Health Economy?

Chronic diseases related to metabolic health, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, are not limited to any one region—they represent a global health crisis affecting billions. In Nigeria, these issues are particularly acute due to limited healthcare infrastructure, high prevalence of obesity affecting 45 million people, and rising chronic disease rates. However, these challenges are mirrored worldwide, even in advanced economies, where hidden risks like visceral fat contribute significantly to health burdens. We realised the most effective way to tackle these universal health challenges is through proactive prevention—empowering individuals everywhere to manage their health actively, rather than relying solely on overstretched healthcare systems.

Platos Monitor

To address these needs, we developed Platos Monitor, a comprehensive self-monitoring system combining affordable, medical-grade hardware (priced between ₦80,000 and ₦120,000) with advanced AI-powered software.

Platos Monitor:

• Features Platos Intelligence, our AI-powered tool built on Google's Gemini AI, offering personalised insights and actionable health recommendations.
• Tracks over 20 vital health markers, including body composition, blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and physical activity.
• Integrates with Apple Health and Google Health Connect.

Early user feedback has been highly encouraging:

• 59.4% expressed they would be significantly disappointed without Platos Monitor.
• 33% achieved clinically meaningful weight loss (≥5%) within three months.

Launching Nationwide in Nigeria and Beyond

In Nigeria, we've established partnerships with over 300 pharmacy stores, including Medplus, Alpha Pharmacy, Purelife, and Justrite, significantly increasing accessibility and adoption. In 2024 alone, we achieved a 500% revenue increase and a remarkable 2754% growth in biomarker logs, tracking 49 unique biomarkers.

Research and Global Ambitions

We're actively collaborating with our Platos’ Scientific Advisory Board experts, including Professor Hanno Pijl and Dr. Jimoh Itopa, to explore dietary strategies for fat regulation, brown fat activation, and metabolic restoration, inspired by global pioneers like Dr. William Li. This research will power our future product, Platos Monitor Plus—a subscription service offering deeper health insights and personalised dietary and metabolic guidance.

As we solidify our impact in Nigeria, we're preparing to expand into other global emerging markets to further our mission.

At Platos, we believe health is deeply personal. With Platos 3.0, we are committed to equipping individuals everywhere with the tools to proactively manage their health, prevent chronic diseases, and live healthier, fuller lives.

Thank you for joining us on this transformative journey. Together, let's build a healthier future for everyone.