Six up-and-coming start-ups on what makes for a successful business- Financial Times

Six Up-and-Coming Start-ups on What Makes for a Successful Business — Financial Times

By Victor Mallet, New Delhi — Originally published in the Financial Times

Unless she is in mid-flight, Anu Acharya of MapmyGenome can match even the brisk Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP for the rapidity of her email responses. The molecular diagnostics company, based in Hyderabad, India, is her second start-up in the same field — and the 43-year-old physicist turned entrepreneur remains a whirlwind of energy. She even writes poetry when stuck at traffic lights.

Founded less than three years ago, MapmyGenome is a pioneer in India in the globally rising business of genomics. By analysing a customer’s genome, the company can assess the risks of various diseases and give advice on preventing illness and managing health.

“Healthcare is not going in the right direction — we need disruption.” — Anu Acharya, MapmyGenome

The Genomepatri offering is a saliva-based test to decode DNA and predict genetic risks for more than 100 diseases, traits, inherited conditions, and responses to drugs. Other products focus on heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and sport.

“My motivation to look at this was primarily that one sixth of the world population is Indian and the global data are fairly skewed to the Caucasian population. The main driving force is to be able to say, ‘Can I leave the world a little better than when I went into business?’” — Anu Acharya

Acharya has form as an entrepreneur. After postgraduate studies at IIT Kharagpur and the University of Illinois, she launched Ocimum Biosolutions, a genomics outsourcing company, which she ran for 13 years until 2013. MapmyGenome’s early funders include Rajan Anandan, Google’s boss for Southeast Asia and India.

“The market’s not ready, so you’re creating the market. It’s a good thing to be able to do this. But it’s also tougher.” — Anu Acharya

Originally published at Financial Times