Allergy Amulet, a Madison-based startup that creates a portable sensor device providing the ability to test for food allergens, announced the company has successfully raised $4.1 million in seed funding.
The fundraising close comes on the heels of an initial $3.3 million seed round led by Titletown Tech, last summer. This latest seed extension includes investments from AllerFund and Lightship Capital, according to the release.
Allergy Amulet has developed disposable test strips that can quickly determine whether food contains particular allergens. Users collect a food sample into a USB-sized reader, and insert the test strip, which contains proprietary sensor chips to alert users of potentially harmful ingredients. The device can fit into pockets, clip on to a keychain, or can be worn as a necklace or wristband.
Test results can additionally be stored in the company’s mobile app, according to the website.
The startup says food allergies affect nearly 23 million Americans — leading many people to avoid purchasing food products that contain the top nine allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, eggs, milk, sesame, and soy.
Currently, the company’s beta launch will include peanut and soy testing with the goal to add more allergens as the startup matures.
The additional capital will also allow Allergy Amulet to accelerate manufacturing, expand its product offerings, increase its educational content, and grow the company’s internal team, the release explained.
“Food allergy and food-related diseases have become an epidemic,” said Lisa Strovink, managing partner of AllerFund. “The combination of Allergy Amulet’s ease of use and accuracy holds great potential for community impact.”
Allergy Amulet hopes its sensor device will contribute to improving the current standard for food allergy management, which is currently limited to avoiding allergenic foods, injecting epinephrine to treat reactions, or handled through unexpected trips to the emergency room.
“Over the last year, it’s become increasingly clear that we need to get Allergy Amulet into the hands of as many people as possible,” said Abigail Barnes, a co-founder of the company and CEO, who lives with food allergies and has personally experienced a near-fatal anaphylactic event. “Parents, caretakers and people suffering from food allergies have told us time and again they need an additional tool in their toolbox to help them. We’re ready to make the future better and ensure that every person with a food allergy can safely savor life’s important moments.”
Since launching in 2016, Allergy Amulet has raised a total of $5.8 million in funding. The product is slated for launch in late 2021.
