80/20 Health Principle

The 80/20 principle applied to health focuses on identifying the most impactful interventions that deliver the majority of health benefits, rather than getting lost in details.

Health Testing and Monitoring

• Traditional medical system is often restrictive about health testing

  • Doctors may refuse to run tests for seemingly healthy individuals
  • Example: A 32-year-old being denied testosterone testing because "you're fine"
  • Medical system can be "patronizing" about preventative testing

• Companies like Function Health and Superpower are disrupting this model

  • Offer comprehensive blood testing through telemedicine
  • Test for 90+ markers including PFOS exposure, heavy metals, testosterone, insulin markers
  • Annual membership fee (~$500) vs. traditional testing costs ($7,000-8,000)
  • Function is one of the fastest growing companies in Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio
  • Reached 9-figure revenue in just 2-3 years

• These services lower friction for understanding personal health data

  • Create potential for informed action based on biomarkers
  • Allow individuals to take control of their health monitoring
  • Growing demand for understanding biomarkers and lipids

Pet Health Trends

• Pet health trends lag human health trends by a few years

  • Fresh food delivery for humans (Blue Apron, HelloFresh) preceded fresh dog food (Farmer's Dog)
  • Farmer's Dog now exceeds $100-200 million in revenue

• Dogs face similar health crises as humans

  • Rising cancer rates (1 in 4 dogs will get cancer)
  • Environmental factors and poor nutrition contributing to health issues
  • Kibble described as "total trash" making dogs sick
  • Feeding kibble compared to "feeding me potato chips every day"
  • Processed food with artificial ingredients and preservatives

• Demographic shifts driving market growth

  • In some cities, there are more dogs than babies
  • Millennials and Gen Z have more dogs than babies
  • Growing market for premium pet health products

• Business opportunities in pet health

  • Apply human health principles to pet products
  • Potential areas: water filtration for dogs, natural materials for kennels, peptides, supplements
  • Market ready for premium, health-focused pet products

Food Quality and Regulation

• FDA regulations allow significant variance in nutritional content

  • 10% variance for some nutrients
  • Up to 30-50% variance for sensitive compounds like potassium or iodine
  • Makes nutrition information difficult to trust completely

• Organic certification has limitations

  • Better than nothing but not perfect
  • Cross-contamination between organic and non-organic sections on farms
  • Organic vegetables have fewer pesticides but still contain some due to environmental factors
  • Wind and water can transfer compounds between growing areas