Nucleus Genomics is a New York-based consumer genomics company that sells a $399 at-home, clinical-grade whole-genome sequencing kit and a software platform that turns a person's full DNA sequence into readable reports on disease risk, carrier status, traits, and longevity. Founded in 2021 by Thiel Fellow Kian Sadeghi, Nucleus pairs whole-genome data with polygenic risk scores and lifestyle inputs to estimate risk for common, complex conditions. In 2025 it expanded into reproductive products - carrier screening, partner DNA alignment, and a controversial embryo-ranking tool, Nucleus Embryo - that put the company at the center of a public debate over the science and ethics of genetic selection.
Yongwei Zhang is the CEO of Complete Genomics and MGI Americas, leading one of the most ambitious efforts to make whole-genome sequencing fast, accurate, and affordable at scale. With a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins and dual bachelor's degrees from Tsinghua University, Zhang brings a rare blend of optics precision, software fluency, and entrepreneurial grit to the genomics frontier. He architected the DNBSEQ sequencing platform series now used by over 2,600 researchers in 100 countries, and has positioned Complete Genomics as a formidable challenger to Illumina's market dominance - at a fraction of the cost.
Noor Siddiqui is the founder and CEO of Orchid Health, a San Francisco-based biotech startup offering whole-genome sequencing for IVF embryos, screening for 1,200+ genetic variants. Motivated by watching her mother lose her sight to retinitis pigmentosa, she dropped out of high school at 17 to become one of the youngest Thiel Fellows, later returned to earn dual CS degrees at Stanford, and then built Orchid with $16.5M in funding from investors including 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki and Coinbase's Brian Armstrong. She is also the host of the podcast 'Conceivable with Noor.'