India’s genomics startup that offers DNA testing and personal genetic services is planning to scale up in a big way. Its main offering, Genomepatri, maps your genome to reveal your predisposition to disease — and depending on your family medical history, helps you know yourself and build healthy habits.
The idea belongs to Anu Acharya, one of India’s top innovators. Born in Bikaner and educated at IIT Kharagpur (1995), she completed her Masters in Physics and MIS from the University of Illinois at Chicago before founding Ocimum Biosolutions in 2000 and MapmyGenome in 2013.
The Journey: From Bioinformatics to Personal Genomics
The initial idea for Ocimum was to offer world-class bioinformatics software — the earliest concept was to sequence medicinal plants like Tulsi, which is where the name Ocimum came from. By 2010, with 10+ years of expertise in genomics research, Anu knew this technology could be a game changer in healthcare. When the board at Ocimum vetoed the direct-to-consumer idea, she founded MapmyGenome and began commercial operations in 2013.
“When Angelina Jolie had both her breasts removed through mastectomy, she did so because she had about an 87% chance of being hit by breast cancer. How did she know? By mapping her genes.”
On Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship
At MapmyGenome, the ratio of female to male employees is 65:35. Women are encouraged to take initiative and shine — from the board to top management and functional heads, women outrank men. “Biases and perceptions hold women out of these fields. We have to increase the funnel to make the statistics better.”
Success Mantra
Develop a system. Delegate to a colleague. Demand quality. Do it yourself when all else fails.
“Genetics has taught me the mantra — Know yourself first and you can conquer all.” — Anu Acharya
Originally published on SheThePeople.tv
Know Yourself First — Start with Your DNA
Genomepatri by MapmyGenome is India’s most comprehensive at-home DNA wellness test — screening 100+ health conditions, nutrition traits, fitness markers, drug responses, and ancestry from a simple saliva sample.
