NiaHealth, an Edmonton-based healthtech startup focused on preventative healthcare, has officially exited stealth and announced $2.5 million CAD in pre-seed funding.
The round was led by Version One Ventures, with participation from ScaleGood Fund, Garage Ventures, Union Capital, and notable angels including Wattpad co-founder Ivan Yuen and investors from founder Sameer Dhar’s previous startup.
The company quietly secured the round in late 2023 but chose to make its public debut only now, as it launches its beta platform aimed at early disease detection and lifestyle optimization through at-home biomarker testing.
A New Approach to Preventative Care
NiaHealth’s platform offers subscription-based testing plans that analyze more than 35 health biomarkers, ranging from cholesterol and blood platelets to hormone levels and metabolism. Plans start at $299 CAD annually, with premium options—including quarterly coaching and concierge services—reaching up to $1,299 CAD.
“We’re aiming to prevent disease, not just treat it,” said Sameer Dhar, co-founder and CEO.
Subscribers receive personalized health reports powered by AI insights, diagnostics, and one-on-one clinician consultations. The goal is to empower users with actionable recommendations—like lifestyle changes or specialist referrals—before symptoms develop.
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Strong Early Impact
While in stealth, NiaHealth conducted over 100,000 tests, and according to Version One Ventures’ Boris Wertz, over 90% of users discovered preventable health risks such as early signs of pre-diabetes or declining kidney function.
The startup positions itself not as a replacement for Canada’s public healthcare system, but as a complementary service focused on proactive wellness. “Family doctors treat what’s already there,” Wertz noted. “NiaHealth wants to stop it from happening in the first place.”
A Mission Years in the Making
Dhar, who previously founded Sensassure (a senior care tech company) and served as managing director at hygiene giant Essity, has been developing the concept for nearly six years. He was personally inspired after using diagnostic tools to reduce his own diabetes risk by 300%.
NiaHealth is currently live in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, with plans to expand across Canada and internationally. New platform features, including more tailored user experiences, are expected to roll out by the end of 2025.
“This isn’t about hype—it’s about measurable impact,” said Wertz. “NiaHealth is tackling one of the biggest gaps in modern healthcare: prevention.”
