Latest news with #WebSummit
Cision Canada
31-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
NiaHealth Taps ex-HelloFresh Exec as First Chief Marketing Officer and Announces Product Expansion as Company Enters Hyper-Growth Phase
Award-winning marketing leader Candy Lee joins NiaHealth amidst accelerating demand, expanded clinical care, and the announcement of significant product expansion as Canada's most comprehensive proactive health platform. TORONTO, July 31, 2025 /CNW/ - NiaHealth, Canada's fastest-growing consumer proactive health company, today announced the appointment of Candy Lee as its first Chief Marketing Officer, marking a major milestone in the company's evolution from emerging startup to national category leader. The announcement today also includes significant product expansion as part of NiaHealth's mission to become Canada's most powerful and comprehensive proactive health platform—launching Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) out of beta, tripling the size of its clinician team, and expanding its core testing panel from 50+ to over 150 biomarkers, now the most complete longevity and healthspan assessment available to Canadians. This news follows a string of major milestones for NiaHealth, including its public debut out of stealth in April, national platform enhancements announced live at Web Summit in May, and the closing of a $5.75M seed fundraise in June led by Golden Ventures, Version One, and other top-tier Canadian tech investors. "Momentum is real, and it's accelerating," said Sameer Dhar, CEO and Co-Founder of NiaHealth. "We've gone from stealth to scale in just a few months—but we've stayed grounded in our mission. Every new test, every clinical consult, every continuous glucose monitor scan is about helping Canadians feel better and live longer. Candy's appointment is a massive leap forward—she's built some of the most loved brands in Canada, and she understands how to meet people where they are. We're not just innovating—we're making proactive care truly accessible." Lee's career spans award-winning marketing and growth leadership at HelloFresh, Homebase, ecobee, and Budweiser—Canada's #1 beer—earning recognition from the Cannes Lions, FastCompany, CMA Awards, Media Innovation Awards, and more. But it was a personal health reckoning that brought her to NiaHealth. "A decade ago, I hit a turning point in my own health," said Candy Lee, Chief Marketing Officer at NiaHealth. "What looked fine on paper spiralled into months of fatigue, inflammation, and unanswered questions. Through that journey, I learned that with the right clinical guidance and proactive biomarker testing, so much of that suffering could have been avoided. What excites me most about NiaHealth isn't just the science or the product—it's the humanity. This is a company that leads with empathy, with clinicians guiding every step. And the opportunity to bring that to millions of Canadians? That's the kind of mission you drop everything for." NiaHealth's platform now includes access to 150+ evidence-backed biomarkers, one-on-one consultations with longevity-trained clinicians, and advanced data integrations with gut microbiome test insights, Vo2Max, DEXA Body Scans, CGMs and fitness wearables like Oura Ring, Fitbit, and Garmin. By combining long-range biomarkers with real-time health data, members gain a full-circle view of their health—before symptoms ever begin. The company has completed nearly 150,000 biomarker tests across the country, with over 90% of members discovering at least one previously unknown—but actionable—health risk, such as pre-diabetes, vitamin D deficiency, or early heart disease indicators. NiaHealth operates in every province except Quebec and offers HSA-eligible plans starting at $299/year. Designed to complement Canada's public healthcare system, NiaHealth supports Canadians between doctor visits—focusing on long-term prevention, lifestyle change, and early intervention. "This next chapter isn't just about scale—it's about impact for Canadians," said Dhar. "We're proving that proactive health can be evidence-based, clinician-guided, and built for real life. That's the future we're working toward, and we're just getting started." About NiaHealth NiaHealth is Canada's leading proactive health platform, helping people live longer, healthier lives through advanced biomarker testing, personalized clinical guidance, and real-time tools like continuous glucose monitoring and fitness wearable integration. With nearly 150,000 biomarker tests completed and plans starting at $299/year, NiaHealth is proudly built in Canada, for Canadians—designed to empower members with long-range insights, early risk detection, and actionable support. Learn more at
CairoScene
22-07-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Foreign Startup Registrations Surge 118% in Saudi Arabia
The Riyadi license offers foreign entrepreneurs streamlined access to the Saudi market as part of the Kingdom's push to boost its innovation ecosystem. Jul 22, 2025 Saudi Arabia has reported a 118% increase in foreign startup registrations, with 550 companies receiving Riyadi licenses by mid-2025, according to the Ministry of Investment. The Riyadi license offers foreign entrepreneurs streamlined access to the Saudi market as part of the Kingdom's push to boost its innovation ecosystem. In parallel, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, Monsha'at, issued 364 licenses to accelerators and incubators across the country. These hubs are designed to support startups with infrastructure, investor networks, mentorship, and tools to develop and commercialise new products. The spike in licensing activity follows a record first half of the year for venture capital. Saudi startups secured $860 million across 114 deals, marking a 116% increase in capital and a 31% growth in deal count compared to the same period in 2024. These figures underscore Saudi Arabia's continued dominance as the leading VC destination in the Middle East and North Africa. The growth also reflects broader national efforts to attract foreign startups through simplified procedures and targeted reforms. The Ministry of Investment has introduced eight new business license categories - covering sectors like IT, consulting, hospitality, manufacturing, and mining - that allow 100% foreign ownership and are available through its digital portal. Saudi Arabia's momentum has also been supported by global startup showcases like LEAP, Biban, and participation in events such as Web Summit and VivaTech, reinforcing the Kingdom's efforts to position itself as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Gulf Insider
21-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Foreign Startup Licenses In Saudi Arabia Surge 118% To 550 By Mid-2025
The number of foreign startups licensed under Saudi Arabia's 'Riyadi' initiative has reached 550 as of mid-2025, marking a 118% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Investment. This surge comes as part of national efforts to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by facilitating international startup entry and creating a flexible regulatory environment that fosters innovation and attracts investment. The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has also issued 364 licenses for business incubators and accelerators across the country. These entities have played a vital role in attracting international entrepreneurs and supporting their growth journey — from early prototyping and mentorship to investor and market access — enabling them to launch effectively in the Saudi market. Flagship international events hosted in the Kingdom, such as Biban and LEAP, have further drawn global founders by showcasing Saudi Arabia's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and investment opportunities. Additionally, the active participation of Saudi stakeholders in global forums like Web Summit, Vivatech, and Slush has enhanced international networking and promoted the Kingdom as an attractive destination for startup activity. The 'Riyadi' license (Startup Investment Registration) is one of the Ministry of Investment's key initiatives, designed to empower international and local entrepreneurs to establish ventures easily with partners from around the world. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia's broader objectives of economic diversification, innovation, and embedding a culture of entrepreneurship.
Saudi Gazette
21-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Foreign startup licenses in Saudi Arabia surge 118% to 550 by mid-2025
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The number of foreign startups licensed under Saudi Arabia's "Riyadi" initiative has reached 550 as of mid-2025, marking a 118% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Investment. This surge comes as part of national efforts to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by facilitating international startup entry and creating a flexible regulatory environment that fosters innovation and attracts investment. The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has also issued 364 licenses for business incubators and accelerators across the country. These entities have played a vital role in attracting international entrepreneurs and supporting their growth journey — from early prototyping and mentorship to investor and market access — enabling them to launch effectively in the Saudi market. Flagship international events hosted in the Kingdom, such as Biban and LEAP, have further drawn global founders by showcasing Saudi Arabia's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and investment opportunities. Additionally, the active participation of Saudi stakeholders in global forums like Web Summit, Vivatech, and Slush has enhanced international networking and promoted the Kingdom as an attractive destination for startup activity. The "Riyadi" license (Startup Investment Registration) is one of the Ministry of Investment's key initiatives, designed to empower international and local entrepreneurs to establish ventures easily with partners from around the world. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia's broader objectives of economic diversification, innovation, and embedding a culture of entrepreneurship.
Epoch Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
‘The Gut-Brain Paradox': Mysteries of the Microbiome
There's a compelling sentence in the book by Dr. Steven R. Gundry on the connection between the gut and the brain. In considering addictions, he wrote, 'Our brains are under the direction of our microbiomes. We need not feel guilt or shame because of an addiction or a brain alteration.' He asserts that addictions or other brain illnesses are not our fault. They result from the bacteria in our gut, also known as the microbiome. Dr. Steven Gundry during the 2019 Web Summit 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. Piaras O. Midheach/Web Summit via Sportsfile/CC BY 2.0
