Kian Sadeghi, Founder & CEO @ Nucleus Genomics: How Your DNA Will Change the Future of Healthcare

The cost of sequencing a full human genome has dropped from $10 million to just $399, and Kian Sadeghi is leading the charge to make genomics accessible to everyone.

Welcome to Founder Debug! I want to share a conversation that left me inspired and in awe. I sat down with Kian Sadeghi, the Founder and CEO of Nucleus Genomics.

His vision:

“It’s an inevitability that every person will have their entire genome on their iPhone.”

The statement is both wild and fascinating. Kian’s career is equally remarkable. He dropped out of Penn at 20. He cold-emailed Cory Levy of Z-fellows to a $100K seed and eventually raised over $30M to make whole genome sequencing accessible. It’s a story of passion and a belief that everyone deserves to know their DNA.

Here are my seven key takeaways from our conversation:

1. The Best Founders Have an Unshakable Why

Kian’s mission isn’t just a business idea. It’s personal. His cousin passed away unexpectedly from an undiagnosed genetic condition. That loss ignited a fire in him. By 17, he was already tinkering with DIY gene editing. At 20, he left Penn to launch Nucleus Genomics. When your why hits close to home, you’ll find the purpose to overcome almost anything.

2. Cold Outreach is the Ultimate Cheat Code

Kian had zero funding when he began. He started cold emailing investors (hundreds and hundreds of investors). One email led to a conversation, and that conversation brought in $100K from Cory Levy of Z Fellows. If you’re not willing to send out 100s of cold emails, ask yourself if you’re really in it for the long haul.

3. Genomics Will Be Standard on Every Smartphone

Not long ago, whole genome sequencing cost millions of dollars. Nucleus offers it for just $399. Kian believes in a future where sequencing costs about a dollar, routine enough to be as common as a newborn vaccine. Imagine having your entire genetic blueprint right on your phone just like your step count on Apple Health. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s quickly becoming reality.

4. Why Nucleus Isn’t 23andMe

There’s a clear difference between Nucleus and companies like 23andMe. While others profit by selling your data for drug discovery, Nucleus is building a consumer health platform. They let you own your data. Kian’s bet is that the real value lies in continuous AND personalized health insights. It’s about giving you control over your data instead of commoditizing your genetic information.

5. The Missing Heritability Gap is AI’s Next Gold Rush

We can predict parts of our traits, like height, with polygenic scores; however, there’s still a lot we can’t explain. Kian believes that AI will close this “missing heritability” gap in the next 5 to 10 years. This isn’t just an incremental improvement. It could truly transform precision medicine and the way we understand our health.

6. “If You’re in Stealth, You’re Already Dead.”

Kian’s advice here is refreshingly blunt. Waiting around in stealth mode is like standing still. He argues that startups should launch quickly and iterate on the fly. Perfection is the enemy of momentum. In fact, Nucleus recently rolled out 80 new genomic reports. Action wins over endless planning every single time.

7. Distribution is a Moat, Not Just Tech

Great technology is important, but it’s not the whole story. Kian shared how Nucleus has built its brand through smart distribution. They’ve been featured at UFC events, Bryan Johnson’s summits, and other global gatherings. When you control your distribution channels, you build a competitive edge that goes beyond the tech itself.

Final Takeaway: The Future of Medicine Will Be Built by Startups

Kian’s career is a reminder that the future of medicine isn’t in the hands of big companies. It’s being built now by founders willing to work hard and take risks. His simple rule for founders? “Work 12 hours a day for at least a year—then you’ll know if your idea has legs.” Genomics isn’t just shaping the future of medicine. It’s literally paving the way for human optimization.

What excites you most about all this change? Is it the promise of having your personal data right at your fingertips? Or is it the bold spirit of entrepreneurs like Kian, who are shaking up the status quo? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment or reply to this post.

Thanks for reading the first edition of Founder Debug!