The Venture Codex

Participated · Seed · Aug 2020

Amulet builds portable sensors that provide rapid, on-site molecular detection for food allergens, toxins, and other environmental contaminants through a consumer wearable (Allergy Amulet) and a commercial detection platform (Amulet Scientific). The company plans to scale its team, expand its detection portfolio, and execute a full product launch to serve a growing waitlist. Since its 2020 seed round, Amulet has secured grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recent strategic hires include Michelle Wu (Head of Product) and Barkley Jenny (VP of Product) to support commercialization and product development. Amulet also recently became a benefit corporation, reflecting its mission-driven approach to improving food safety for individuals and businesses. The technology targets both consumer needs (people managing food allergies and intolerances) and commercial customers (restaurants, suppliers, and manufacturers) to reduce allergen exposure, contamination-related recalls, and associated health impacts. Allergy Amulet builds a consumer food-allergen detection platform centered on a thumb-sized reader (the "Amulet") paired with a disposable sampler. The device pairs molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) technology with an electrochemical system to detect common allergenic ingredients in seconds. Its sleek, portable design supports everyday carry (keychain, necklace, wristband) and an optional mobile app to store and share results. Allergy Amulet closed additional Seed funding that brought the round to $4.1 million and previously raised an initial Seed led by a joint venture between Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers. The new capital will be used to accelerate manufacturing, expand product offerings to cover more allergens, grow the team, and educate consumers. The company positions the Amulet as an additional tool for individuals, parents, and businesses to better manage food allergies and reduce reliance on strict avoidance and emergency treatment. Allergy Amulet has developed a small, fast consumer food allergen sensor consisting of a USB-sized reader and disposable test strips housing proprietary sensor chips. The patented, portable technology is designed to fit on a keychain, necklace, wristband, or in a pocket and the company’s case also accommodates epinephrine and antihistamines. The company holds one issued U.S. patent with multiple applications and reports a waitlist with thousands of individuals signed up for an early beta release. Allergy Amulet plans to use new funding to manufacture beta units, launch pre-orders, expand product offerings to cover more allergens, grow its team, add additional restaurant and company partners, and educate consumers about food allergen management tools. The company is led by Co-founder and CEO Abigail Barnes and Co-founder and Scientific Advisor Dr. Joseph BelBruno. Pre-sales were slated for Fall 2020 with a broader launch planned for Fall 2021. Allergy Amulet develops a rapid, portable, point-of-consumption food allergen detection device that connects to a patent-pending disposable test strip. The device enables mobile measurements to help individuals avoid ingesting target allergens. It can be configured as a wearable (for example, a necklace) or integrated into everyday products (for example, an EpiPen). Led by CEO Abigail Barnes and based in Madison, WI, the company plans to begin beta testing of its prototype. Allergy Amulet raised $1.1M in seed funding to grow the team and accelerate product development. Investors in the round include Colle Capital, Bulldog Innovation Group, Foley Ventures, Gopher Angels, Mendota Venture Capital and the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation.