#269 - How Levels got its start as a company setting out to solve the metabolic health crisis via CGM access | Josh Clemente & Ben Grynol
Dec 19, 2024
auto_awesome
Josh Clemente, Founder of Levels, and Ben Grynol, an early team member, dive into the creation of their startup addressing metabolic health through continuous glucose monitoring. They discuss Clemente's pivotal realization about nutrition as a 'superpower' and the challenges of introducing CGM technology within a rigid medical system. The duo shares insights on how even healthy foods can spike glucose levels, the journey of fundraising, and the emotional landscape of building a mission-driven company that aims to empower individuals with personalized health data.
Levels was founded in 2019 to address the metabolic health crisis through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and an educational app.
Josh Clemente's realization of food's impact on health demonstrated that dietary choices can significantly enhance metabolic performance.
The podcast highlights that the mainstream medical system often fails to address type 2 diabetes until it reaches an advanced stage.
Personal stories shared by team members illustrate how tracking glucose levels transformed their understanding of diet and overall wellness.
Investment from A16Z served as a pivotal moment for Levels, validating its mission and facilitating further growth and innovation.
Deep dives
Identity Theft Awareness During Holidays
As the holiday season approaches, the risk of identity theft increases significantly due to heightened online activity including shopping and travel. This episode emphasizes the crucial role that monitoring services like LifeLock play in safeguarding personal information. LifeLock operates by constantly scanning millions of data points to detect potential fraud attempts, providing users with a sense of security. The guarantee of identity restoration by U.S.-based specialists, should an incident occur, underscores the importance of having support in combating identity theft.
Understanding Patient Data Access
The episode discusses the complexities of patient-physician relationships, specifically around access to personal health data. It highlights an individual's frustration about being told they cannot access their own metabolic data, exemplified by experiences with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). This raises the question of why patients often must request access to their data from healthcare providers instead of having direct control. The dialogue shines a light on the need for individuals to have autonomy over their health information.
Formation of Levels Startup
The founding story of the startup Levels is explored, detailing its inception during a conversation between team members in January 2021. The narrative illustrates the realization that more individuals needed to gain insights into their metabolic health, primarily through the use of technology like CGMs. A collective desire among the founders to facilitate better health understanding led to the formation of the company in June 2019, in response to rising concerns over poor metabolic health among the population. The story encapsulates the journey from initial concept to the establishment of a mission-driven organization.
Initial Challenges and Market Engagement
The podcast describes the various challenges faced by Levels in its early stages, including market engagement and product accessibility. The team recognized the growing buzz around metabolic health and CGMs, but encountered significant barriers when attempting to source these devices. Personal experiences from company founder Josh Clemente further fueled the motivation to provide individuals with better access to their health data and insights on their metabolic responses. The collective vision formulated a robust strategy aimed at educating the masses and improving metabolic health awareness.
The Impact of Personal Health Tracking
Personal accounts of team members reveal how tracking glucose levels transformed their understanding of diet and health. Several founders shared their revelations about food choices, energy levels, and overall well-being after using CGMs. For instance, team member Casey Means illustrates how specific foods impact her glucose levels, leading to positive changes in her diet. These anecdotes demonstrate that gaining real-time insights into metabolic health can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their lifestyle.
The Intersection of Technology and Health
As the company progressed, the intersection of technology and health became a focal point of discussion. Founders recognized that continuous access to health data could revolutionize personal health management by providing users with actionable insights. The startup aimed to simplify complex health data into understandable metrics for users, facilitating informed decision-making. This transformative approach aligns with the broader trend toward personalizing healthcare experiences through data integration.
Team Composition and Growth
The team at Levels expanded rapidly, integrating key individuals specializing in various domains crucial for business success. This rapid growth included the addition of experts in product development, content creation, and operational strategy. The team emphasized creating a culture of collaboration where everyone's strengths contributed to the overall mission. By distributing roles effectively, Levels was able to accelerate its product development and streamline operations, ensuring a cohesive approach to tackling metabolic health.
Responding to COVID-19 Challenges
In early 2020, as COVID-19 disrupted normal operations for many businesses, Levels faced unique challenges but also opportunities. The team decided to pivot by putting the resources and energy into product development rather than fundraising during this unprecedented period. Despite external uncertainty, the demand for health-related information surged, prompting the company to streamline communications and enhance its product offerings. This tactical approach allowed Levels to position itself favorably in the health tech landscape amidst the pandemic.
A16Z Investment and Momentum
The significance of raising a funding round led by A16Z was monumental for Levels, marking a turning point in its growth trajectory. The announcement garnered considerable attention within the health tech community, serving as a powerful validation of the company’s mission and vision. This investment acted as a catalyst, instilling confidence among team members and attracting further interest from potential investors and customers alike. The support of A16Z not only solidified Levels' credibility but also opened doors for strategic partnerships and future growth.
Developing the Product and Customer Experience
With the influx of funding and team expansion, developing a robust product and enhancing customer experience became paramount for Levels. The founding team focused on creating an intuitive app to streamline glucose monitoring and educational content delivery to users. This included integrating user feedback and insights gathered from the initial testing phase to refine the product iteratively. The ongoing commitment to optimizing the user experience, informed by real-time data and testimonials, played a key role in the startup's success.
Levels, aiming to fix the metabolic health crisis with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) paired with an intuitive and educational app, was founded in 2019 by Josh Clemente, who eventually brought on several co-founders to help steer the startup’s ship. Josh Clemente and Ben Grynol discuss Clemente’s lightbulb moment for the concept, the networking process for gaining investor buy-in and taking the company to the next level, and the hiccups and triumphs along the way.
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Josh Clemente & Ben Grynol discuss:
(01:51) — The Levels origin story
(30:05) — The catalyst for moving on from SpaceX
(41:27) — Clemente realizes that altering nutrition can provide a “superpower”
(46:46) — The mainstream medical system doesn’t treat type 2 diabetes until it’s advanced
(50:30) — Even seemingly healthy foods can spike glucose and lead to an energy crash
(59:40) — The next step in the Levels story was creating the product
(01:25:27) — Clemente uses pressed juice to illustrate a glucose rise
(01:41:30) — How the Levels name was born
(02:03:35) — Levels needed representation in the medical field
(02:43:33) — Levels co-founders get the opportunity to try CGM
