It’s all in your DNA: How Mapmygenome CEO Anu Acharya used genomics to revolutionise healthcare in India

It’s All in Your DNA: How MapmyGenome CEO Anu Acharya Used Genomics to Revolutionise Healthcare in India

Originally published September 21, 2022.

As a child, Anuradha Acharya would spend hours in a physics laboratory watching her father, a physics professor, work. In between conducting experiments, he used to encourage his daughter to be inquisitive and constantly seek answers. As a result, Anu’s world revolved mostly around science and technology. Along the journey, and after a little bit of soul-searching, a young Anu realised that entrepreneurship was her true calling.

Her decision to give wings to her entrepreneurial journey coincided with the human genome sequencing that was underway in the year 2000. The entrepreneur was quick to see the potential in the genomics space. This became the foundation of her first start-up, Ocimum Bio Solutions.

“What started as a pure bioinformatics company soon became an enterprise with top pharma labs using our ‘RaaS’ (Research as a Service) solutions, genomics database, and diagnostics kits. Ocimum became one of the largest service providers in the genomics space for discovery, development, and diagnostics with three international acquisitions and two fundraisers.” — Anu Acharya

MapmyGenome was founded in 2013 with a clear mission: to make personalised genetic testing accessible to every Indian. The company’s flagship product, Genomepatri, analyses an individual’s DNA to provide insights into health risks, nutrition, fitness, and ancestry — helping people make proactive, informed decisions about their health.

MapmyGenome has raised around $2 million to date and has attracted high-profile investors including Rajan Anandan, Google’s Vice-President for India and South-East Asia. The company has reached operational breakeven and is focused on expanding its product portfolio and customer base across India and internationally.