Healthcare has traditionally focused on diagnosing and treating illnesses after symptoms appear, but a growing movement is encouraging people to understand their health risks much earlier. UK based preventative health startup Stride is seeking to make that shift more accessible by combining diagnostic testing, personalised insights and ongoing health tracking. The company has raised £4.6 million in seed funding to advance its technology, develop new research capabilities and prepare for international expansion.
The funding round attracted investment from Arāya Ventures, Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures, Better Ventures, Innovate UK and an investor from the a16z Scout Fund, alongside several angel investors. The capital will support Stride’s ambition to build a more predictive and personalised health platform that helps people make informed decisions about their wellbeing over time.
Moving From Treatment to Prevention
Launched in May 2024 by Andrew Steele, an Olympic medallist and co founder of DNAfit, Stride offers a preventative health membership built around DNA, blood and gut health testing. Its platform is designed to help users understand information from diagnostic tests, identify areas they may wish to discuss with healthcare professionals and monitor changes in their health over time.
The company aims to move beyond one off testing by connecting results with personalised insights and guidance. Instead of treating a test as an isolated snapshot, Stride wants members to use health information as part of a longer term approach to wellbeing.
Preventative health does not guarantee that diseases can be avoided, but identifying relevant risk factors and making appropriate lifestyle changes may help people manage some health risks earlier.
Combining Diagnostics With Personalised Insights
Stride brings together different types of health data to provide a more detailed picture of an individual’s wellbeing. DNA testing can offer information about genetic characteristics, while blood tests and gut health assessments provide different insights into biological processes.
The platform aims to make this information easier to understand and more useful in everyday life. By tracking changes over time, users can gain a clearer view of their health trends and consider which lifestyle adjustments may be appropriate.
Founder Andrew Steele believes preventative healthcare needs to become more engaging if it is to influence behaviour at scale. Drawing on his experience in elite sport and genetics, he argues that better access to health insights could encourage people to take a more active role in their long term wellbeing.
However, diagnostic results and personalised recommendations need to be interpreted carefully. Testing can reveal useful information, but it cannot replace professional medical advice or guarantee a particular health outcome.
Research Into Biological Age and AI
Stride is also developing its technology through two research projects supported by Innovate UK. One focuses on a multiomic approach to measuring biological age, which seeks to examine several types of biological information to better understand how the body changes over time.
The second project involves an AI powered health copilot designed to combine laboratory test results, wearable data, health records and other information to deliver personalised insights and support.
If successful, these initiatives could help Stride connect information that is often spread across different services and devices. The challenge will be ensuring that its analysis is scientifically reliable, understandable to users and appropriately protected as sensitive health information.
Partnerships in Wellness and Longevity
Stride is extending its reach through partnerships with Triple Bond at The BoTree Hotel and LongLane, an alcohol free biohacking destination. These collaborations use diagnostic testing to personalise wellness experiences, connecting health information with services aimed at people interested in longevity and lifestyle improvement.
Such partnerships could help the company reach customers beyond traditional healthcare settings while testing how personalised diagnostics fit into premium wellness offerings.
International Expansion Ahead
Stride plans to use the new funding to strengthen its platform and prepare for international growth. Its next major step is the planned international launch of its Stride One membership outside the UK before the end of 2026.
As interest in preventative health grows, Stride is positioning itself at the intersection of diagnostics, data and personalised wellbeing. Its long term success will depend on making complex health information useful, maintaining scientific credibility and demonstrating that its service can support meaningful changes in how people manage their health.
