Sequential Secures $3.5M to Develop AI-Powered Platform for Skin Health Biomarker Discovery
Key Insights
Sequential (search), a genomic testing company, closed a $3.5 million equity round co-led by Sparkfood (search) and Corundum Systems Biology (search) to advance its AI-powered discovery platform for skin health ingredients.
The company has built one of the industry's most comprehensive clinical datasets with over 50,000 samples, 4,000+ ingredients, and 10,000+ participants worldwide for skin microbiome (search) research.
Sequential (search)'s proprietary platform quantifies how ingredients alter microbial and host biomarkers using non-invasive testing, focusing on inflammatory skin conditions including acne (search), atopic dermatitis (search), and rosacea (search).
Sequential (search), a leader in genomic testing from non-invasive human clinical samples, announced the successful close of its first equity round, securing $3.5 million. The round was co-led by Sparkfood (search) and Corundum Systems Biology (search) (CSB), with participation from Dermazone Holdings (search), SOSV (search), Scrum Ventures (search), an ex-General Partner at Index Ventures (search), alongside continued support from Innovate UK (search). With this raise, Sequential has secured a total of $7.5M in dilutive and non-dilutive funding to date.
Comprehensive Clinical Dataset Powers Innovation
The company has built one of the most comprehensive clinical datasets in the industry, comprising over 50,000 samples, 4,000+ ingredients, and 10,000+ participants worldwide. Sequential (search) advances innovation in skin health by quantifying how ingredients and consumer, biotech, and pharmaceutical products alter microbial and host biomarkers, using their proprietary non-invasive testing platform.
Sequential (search)'s testing platform helps to transform complex biological data into clear, actionable insights. By integrating microbial and molecular analyses, Sequential enables the development of credible, effective, and trustworthy products and claims. With this vast genomic dataset, Sequential is innovating in inflammatory disease areas, including acne (search), atopic dermatitis (search) and rosacea (search).
AI-Powered Discovery Engine Development
The newly raised capital will support the development of an AI-powered discovery engine built on Sequential (search)'s proprietary real-world clinical dataset, enabling the prediction, optimisation and discovery of next-generation active complexes and novel bioactive ingredients.
"Our mission is to bring pharmaceutical-grade evidence and computational precision to personal care," said Oliver Worsley, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Sequential (search). "By applying artificial intelligence to one of the world's largest clinical datasets in dermatological health, we can both discover new skin biomarkers, and move beyond incremental formulation improvements and instead systematically design and validate breakthrough ingredient combinations. This investment allows us to scale that vision."
Strategic Investment Alignment
Anouk Veber, Ventures' Business Unit Leader in Sparkfood (search), commented: "Sequential (search) has built a unique bridge between biology, clinical validation, and consumer product development, linking molecular and microbial biomarkers to real-world product performance. We believe their AI-driven platform will reshape how next-generation personal care products are developed and differentiated. This investment also aligns with Sparkfood's connected innovation strategy, opening the door to co-development opportunities and commercial synergies in the personal care space."
Hidehiko Otake, CEO of Corundum Systems Biology (search), stated: "Sequential (search)'s mission aligns with ours: to transform human health with the power of large datasets, the microbiome, and artificial intelligence. Our continued support in this round reflects our confidence in their vision and our shared commitment to redefining the future of personal care."
Global Operations and Recognition
Sequential (search) is a global leader in the skin microbiome (search) field, comprising a team of PhD experts in testing products and their effect on human health. The Innovate UK (search)- and Enterprise Singapore-backed company operates labs in Cambridge, New York City and Singapore. The company was awarded the title "Most Significant" Testing Solution in the Industry by C&T in 2022.
By combining systems biology, clinical research infrastructure, and advanced computational modelling, Sequential (search) aims to set a new standard for data-driven innovation in personal care and adjacent health categories. The company will continue expanding its biomarker discovery programs and global partnerships as it builds a scalable discovery engine designed to unlock the next generation of scientifically validated complexes.