MADISON, WIS. – Allergen detection company Amulet has raised $5.8 million in Series A financing led by HealthX Ventures with participation from Incite Ventures, AllerFund, Mendota Venture Capital, and Great Oaks Venture Capital among others. Amulet plans to scale its team, expand its detection portfolio and launch a new product portfolio. The company creates portable sensors that offer on-site molecular detection technology to keep food safe from allergens, toxins and contaminants, according to the company.
In 2020, Amulet said it underwent a seed financing round, which raised $3.3 million to manufacture beta units, help with product pre-orders, expand product offerings to cover more allergens, expand its team, add additional restaurant and company partners and educate consumers on its food allergen management tools, according to Crunchbase Daily. It also received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Agriculture.
Expanded team members included Michelle Wu as its head of product and Jenny Barkley as vice president of product.
Amulet’s portfolio includes Allergy Amulet and Amulet Scientific.
Amulet Scientific is a commercial brand featuring a detection platform that helps restaurants, suppliers, manufacturers and other food industry businesses identify a range of molecular issues, including food toxins and environmental contaminants, according to the company.
The Amulet Scientific product is a thumb-sized, battery-powered wireless device with a small display and offers internal memory and Bluetooth connectivity, according to the company. Amulet Scientific said it plans to offer custom chips to detect specific contaminants for food safety testing.
“Amulet’s technology has the potential to improve the safety of our food systems and, by extension, the health and well-being of millions,” said Abigail Barnes, founder and chief executive officer of Amulet. “From gluten to glyphosate in our food and soil, this funding will allow us to deploy rapid detection for both consumers and businesses to help ensure a safer food supply chain and reduce adverse health outcomes for the food allergy, food intolerant, and celiac populations.”
Mark Bakken, founder and managing partner of HealthX Ventures, added, “We strive to support digital innovations that make health care easier and more affordable. There’s no doubt that what Amulet is creating is a much-needed product for the hundreds of millions globally managing food allergies, celiac disease, food intolerances, and the countless businesses that strive to serve them. We look forward to supporting Amulet through this next stage of growth as they bring their innovation to market.”
