This Week in Startups Emergency Pod! uBiome: Anatomy of an Alleged Fraud with Wall Street Journal reporter Amy Dockser Marcus | E1192
Mar 31, 2021
Amy Dockser Marcus, a health and science reporter for the Wall Street Journal, delves into the shocking uBiome fraud scandal, detailing the similarities to the Theranos case. She discusses the ethical dilemmas surrounding innovative health tech and citizen science. The conversation highlights the significant challenges journalists face in uncovering truths in the startup world. Marcus also explores the allure of charismatic founders and the dangers of deception in the healthcare sector, stressing the need for integrity and transparency.
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uBiome's Origins
- uBiome began in 2013 as a citizen science experiment, crowdfunding $350,000.
- They offered at-home fecal sample sequencing for health insights.
uBiome's Initial Purpose
- Early uBiome gut tests aimed to provide insights into personal health through microbiome analysis.
- The tests weren't meant to be clinical but for self-monitoring.
Founders' Relationship
- UBiome founders, Jessica Richman and Zach Apte, were romantically involved.
- They later married in 2019, according to SEC documents.