Superpowering A $950B Health Revolution
Today we have Jacob Peters, CEO & Co-Founder of Superpower, to share their BIG $30 million Series A funding led by Forerunner Ventures. We go deep into their ambitious vision of having an AI doctor in everyone's pocket, his own personal health journey that inspired the creation of Superpower, and the dramatically misaligned incentives driving the current healthcare industry. Jacob also shares the meticulous steps taken to build the Superpower brand, including the creation of 'the world's healthiest hoodie' and the relentless dedication/global pursuit to secure the superpower.com domain and their social handles.
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Superpower aims to provide a holistic and data-driven alternative to traditional medicine, offering personalized insights and actions to improve overall health. Get a glimpse into the future of healthcare, the challenges of the current medical system, & how Superpower plans to disrupt the industry for the better. Deep dive below.
Highlights
00:49 - $30 Million Series A Led by Forerunner
03:57 - Building a Brand: The Story Behind Superpower
08:02 - Securing the Superpower Domain & Social Handles
14:41 - The "Healthiest Hoodie" Ever Made
17:54 - Jacob's Personal Journey & Founding of Superpower
22:03 - Misaligned Health System Incentives
30:50 - The Shocking State of American Health
34:02 - Building a Mission-Driven Team
36:56 - Comprehensive Health Testing
45:29 - Future of Healthcare & Business Model
Superpower’s $30M Series A Led by Forerunner
Revolutionizing Healthcare: Superpower’s Vision
Fresh off the press, Superpower raises a $30 million Series A funding round led by Forerunner Ventures. Superpower is a health technology startup co-founded by Jacob Peters, Kevin Unkrich, and Max Marchione, and is on a mission to revolutionize the healthcare system through a holistic, AI-driven approach that empowers individuals to take control of their health with data. To put the scale in perspective, the global digital health market was valued at $288.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2%, reaching ~$950 billion by 2030 (GVR).
As Peters explains, “In the limit, we think every person in America—and frankly, the world—will have an AI doctor in their pocket.” With over 100K+ already on their waitlist, Superpower continues to build momentum in the rapidly growing proactive health-tech sector.
The funding round, which was nearly double oversubscribed, highlights the excitement surrounding the company’s mission and its potential to be an emerging leader in the global healthcare market. With Peters’ leadership and a team of Silicon Valley engineering talent, Superpower is poised to execute at scale. “Capital no longer becomes quite as much of a constraint,” says Peters, “and you have the freedom to execute.”
Led by Kirsten Green, Founder & Managing Partner of Forerunner Ventures, Green is doubling down on their thesis for “Proactive Measures.” Since founding 12 years ago, Forerunner has grown to $3B AUM to invest in the modern consumer and the ambitious teams reshaping categories. Forerunner is a legendary brand itself. Most recently, the firm raised a new $500 million fund in the fall of 2024, focused on early-stage investments. Forerunner has backed big names in the health space like Oura, Hims & Hers, Prenuvo, Modern Fertility, and more.
The team at Forerunner were particularly drawn to Superpower’s focus on the power of the brand as a competitive moat in a rapidly evolving market. “Most investors and even founders misprice the value of brand,” Peters explained. “But in a world where AI and technology make it easier to replicate products, brand becomes one of the most powerful moats a company can have.” Green’s ability to underwrite the potential of a strong, mission-driven brand made Forerunner Ventures the ideal partner to lead this significant funding milestone.
Skip The Seed, Superpower Goes Straight to Series A
Superpower raised $4 million in previous pre-seed funding, led by Susa Ventures with participation from notable firms including Day One Ventures, Long Journey Ventures, Family Fund, Atman VC, 24 Carrot VC, Focalpoint Partners, and Seaside Ventures. Additionally, a group of prominent angel investors joined the round, featuring high-profile names like Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Balaji Srinivasan, Scott and Cyan Banister, and Evan Charles Moore, co-founder of DoorDash.
The Scale of the Problem: A Healthcare System in Crisis
The challenge that Superpower aims to solve represents one of the most pressing issues of our time: a fundamentally broken healthcare system that prioritizes treatment over prevention, resulting in declining health outcomes despite astronomical spending. The scale of this crisis is reflected in both health statistics and economic indicators.
As highlighted in the Superpower Manifesto:
Lifespan is going backwards
88% of people are metabolically unhealthy
8000 chemicals exist in the US food supply
Obesity rates have more than tripled since 1960
Americans put an average of 168 chemicals on their bodies each day
Female infertility is at record highs, male testosterone and sperm count at record lows
The State of American Health
The health metrics of the U.S. population show alarming trends that highlight the urgency of Superpower's mission:
Obesity Crisis: More than 2 in 5 adults (41.9%) are classified as having obesity, with severe obesity affecting 9.4% of adults (cdc). This represents a significant increase from historical levels, with obesity-related medical costs reaching $173 billion annually (cdc).
Diabetes Epidemic: The latest data shows that 38.4 million Americans (11.6% of the population) have diabetes, with 14.7% of all adults affected (cdc). More concerning is that 8.7 million adults have undiagnosed diabetes, representing 22.8% of all cases (cdc).
Economic Impact and Healthcare Spending
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