Throne, an Austin-based startup, is developing a smart health monitoring device that attaches to existing toilets and uses computer vision along with Artificial Intelligence software to assess users’ gut health. Unlike a traditional smart toilet, the device can be mounted onto regular toilet bowls and analyzes waste to provide early indicators of chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, colon cancers, chronic kidney disease, as well as hydration and urological function. The device aims to bring clinical insights directly into the home while preserving privacy, as it anonymizes data before any sharing with researchers.
The idea for Throne began as a joking suggestion during a poker night, but took shape when the founders’ previous venture failed and an investor brought up smart toilets as a potential opportunity. The founders, Scott Hickle (CEO) and Tim Blumberg (CTO), leveraged Hickle’s medical-family background and conducted research with healthcare professionals, learning the diagnostic value of waste analysis. Despite skeptic investors and doubts about their ability to create hardware, repeated chance encounters and introductions, including with high-profile investors and researchers, fueled their momentum. Key moments included gaining the interest and financial backing of former cyclist and testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and securing a new chief product officer, John Capodilupo, previously the CTO of the WHOOP smartwatch and himself a patient with ulcerative colitis.
Moxxie Ventures, led by Katie Jacobs Stanton, spearheaded Throne´s seed round, which also involved Accomplice, Long Journey Ventures, V1.VC, Night Capital, Retron VC, Myelin Ventures, and angel investors such as Rupa Health co-founder Tara Viswanathan and Kettle & Fire founder Justin Mares. The company has also forged alliances with researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Chicago to validate their technology. The device is presently in its pre-production prototype phase, with a commercial launch targeted for January 2026. The story of Throne’s genesis and fundraising is marked by persistent serendipity and the founders’ conviction that the need to monitor chronic health conditions justifies the unusual approach.
