The Future of Health Tracking is in Your Bathroom
Throne, an Austin-based startup, is bringing artificial intelligence to one of the most overlooked aspects of personal health: analyzing what happens in the toilet. The company has developed an AI-powered smart toilet device that uses computer vision technology to monitor gut health, hydration, and urinary function in real-time—all without leaving your bathroom.
From Poker Table Joke to $4M Startup
The story of Throne is as unconventional as its product. Co-founders Scott Hickle and Tim Blumberg started joking about smart toilets during a poker game in Austin in 2021. When their previous startup failed, an investor suggested they actually build the idea—and they did.
The turning point came when Hickle discussed the concept with his mother, a geriatrician. She explained that patients were already sending her photos of their waste for medical diagnosis. This validation sparked the realization that waste analysis could provide valuable health insights.
High-Profile Leadership and Backing
The startup recently strengthened its credibility by hiring John Capodilupo, the co-founder and former CTO of WHOOP, as Chief Product Officer. Capodilupo brings a decade of experience pioneering continuous health insights and personally understands the problem—he lives with ulcerative colitis.
Throne raised $4 million in seed funding led by Moxxie Ventures, with backing from notable angels including Lance Armstrong and other prominent investors in the health tech space.
Academic Partnerships Validate the Technology
To prove its AI works as intended, Throne has partnered with researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Chicago to validate the device’s health monitoring capabilities. These academic partnerships are critical for establishing credibility in detecting digestive conditions and potentially identifying serious health issues early.
How the Technology Works
The device operates as a clip-on toilet attachment equipped with cameras and AI software that analyze waste samples. The system provides real-time insights into digestive health and hydration levels, positioning itself as “a wearable for your toilet”—similar to how fitness trackers monitor exercise or smartwatches track sleep.
The company’s ultimate vision is ambitious: helping detect serious conditions like cancer through waste analysis, potentially saving lives through early intervention.
What’s Next
With the technology currently in pre-production prototype form, Throne represents a bold bet on making invisible health data accessible and actionable. As health wearables continue to proliferate, Throne is staking its claim on one of the final frontiers: turning bathroom data into actionable health intelligence.
Photo by indraprojects on Pixabay