Business Wars

23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Defying Gravity? | 2

33 snips
Jun 18, 2025
23andMe grapples with low sales, prompting a daring shift to lower prices and venture into pharmaceuticals. The journey of their founder reflects a rocky path filled with regulatory hurdles and a damaging data breach. Meanwhile, survival insights take center stage, offering gripping real-life stories and expert tips for facing life-threatening events, from animal attacks to natural disasters. The mix of corporate ambition and life-or-death wisdom provides a compelling exploration of resilience in business and personal realms.
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ANECDOTE

Wojcicki's Entrepreneurial Juggle

  • Anne Wojcicki juggled multiple ventures while 23andMe struggled with low customer demand and regulatory pressure.
  • Her roving mind showed entrepreneurial spirit but raised concerns about distraction from the core business.
INSIGHT

Price Cut Builds Valuable Data

  • Lowering the price of 23andMe kits to $99 aimed to build a massive genetic data pool rather than profit from test sales.
  • The data became the real asset for medical research and licensing revenue.
INSIGHT

FDA Stop Order Derails Progress

  • The FDA's crackdown in 2013 forced 23andMe to stop marketing health tests, abruptly halting sales momentum.
  • Regulatory compliance proved crucial in healthcare products to avoid shutdown risks.
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