What Helix does

Helix, Inc. is a privately held, US-based population genomics company headquartered in San Mateo, California, founded in 2015 and operating across health systems, life sciences, health plans, providers, and patients. The company runs a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory built around its proprietary Exome+® assay — a clinical-grade sequencing platform that captures roughly 98% of the exome by combining a clinical exome with uniform panel-grade tests, a genome-wide backbone, and full mitochondrial coverage. Every sample is processed through the Sequence Once, Query Often® (SOQO) methodology, which lets a single sequenced sample be re-queried indefinitely for new clinical insights; this reportedly compressed pharmacogenomic turnaround from ~1 week to an average of 80 seconds at one academic partner.

Helix monetizes through five distinct revenue streams: a PMPM subscription with capitation (Helix Genomic Advantage™) for health plans and at-risk health systems; multi-year clinico-genomic data licensing to biopharma via GenoSphere™ cohorts delivered through a Helix Fully Hosted Environment or direct ingestion into partner Trusted Research Environments; provider-ordered clinical diagnostic testing billed through insurance; sponsored testing programs; and Recall-by-Genotype (RbG) clinical-trial recruitment services. Health systems accounted for over 65% of 2025–26 revenue, with life sciences described as the fastest-growing segment. The underlying data asset — GenoSphere™ — reached 500,000+ linked clinico-genomic records in June 2026 across 16 health systems, combining Exome+® sequencing with an average 13 years of EHR history and ~8 years of claims data, refreshed quarterly; an AI-enabled Explorer™ Cohort Builder sits on top, allowing natural-language cohort construction in minutes. The Helix Research Network® spans ~20 health systems and 400,000+ participants, while recent flagship multi-year contracts with GSK (January 2026), Alnylam (March 2026), and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Canada (November 2025) anchor the international and biopharma growth vectors.

Name

Helix

Legal name

Helix, Inc.

Website

https://helix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Helix is a US population genomics company that operates a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited lab around its proprietary Exome+® assay and SOQO methodology, serving health systems, health plans, providers, and life sciences with PMPM subscriptions, clinical diagnostic testing, and clinico-genomic data licensing via its GenoSphere™ platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Mateo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Helix Genomic Advantage™ Subscription (PMPM): Subscription-based PMPM (per-member-per-month) pricing with capitation offered to health systems and health plans. Aligns Helix's incentives with partners by eliminating per-test billing for the partner. Drives year-1 savings projected at $5-10M for a 200K member community hospital over 5 years.
2. GenoSphere™ Data Licensing to Life Sciences: Enterprise data licensing for biopharma access to Helix's clinico-genomic cohorts. Multi-year agreements (e.g., Alnylam, GSK) grant life sciences companies access to Exome+® sequencing data linked to longitudinal EHR and claims data. Delivered via Helix Fully Hosted Environment or direct ingestion into partner trusted research environments (TREs).
3. Clinical Diagnostic Testing (Fee-for-Service): Provider-ordered diagnostic genetic testing for hereditary cancer (78 genes), cardiovascular genomics (158 genes), pharmacogenomics (198 drug-gene pairs), carrier screening (278 genes), proactive screening, and targeted analyses. Most insurance plans cover testing in the US; Helix is in-network with national and regional plans and submits claims on behalf of patients.
4. Sponsored Genetic Testing Programs: Partner-sponsored genomic testing programs that generate real-world evidence while providing clinical value to patients and health systems, used by life sciences organizations for real-world post-market evidence from targeted populations.
5. Recall-by-Genotype (RbG) Clinical Trial Recruitment: Service enabling sponsors to identify and recontact individuals who meet specific genetic criteria from Helix's deeply curated clinico-genomic dataset, accelerating clinical trial recruitment and supporting prognostic enrichment in trial design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Helix is an enterprise genomics company that operates a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited clinical laboratory and a population-scale genomics platform built around its proprietary Exome+ assay and Sequence Once, Query Often (SOQO) methodology. Its commercial offerings include the Helix Research Network (population genomics across ~20 health systems), Helix Diagnostics (clinical genetic testing for hereditary cancer, cardiovascular, pharmacogenomics, and carrier screening), Helix GenoSphere (clinico-genomic research data ecosystem for life sciences), and Helix Genomic Advantage (PMPM subscription program for health plans and systems).

Product overview

Helix is an enterprise genomics company offering a unified, end-to-end platform that integrates population genomics, clinical diagnostic testing, and a clinico-genomic research data ecosystem for life sciences. The platform is anchored by the proprietary Exome+® assay and the Sequence Once, Query Often® (SOQO) methodology, which together enable a single sample to yield a lifetime of queryable clinical and research insights. Population-scale operations are delivered through the Helix Research Network® in partnership with ~20 health systems; clinicians order tests through Helix Diagnostics (with native Epic EHR integration); life sciences customers access deeply phenotyped clinico-genomic cohorts via Helix GenoSphere™, the Helix Fully Hosted Environment, or direct API ingestion into their own Trusted Research Environment; and health plans adopt Helix Genomic Advantage™ for subscription-based, PMPM-priced testing. Supporting modules include the AI-powered Helix Cohort Builder (Explorer™), Helix Precision Pathway™, and the Helix Genetic Risk Assessment workflow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Helix Research Network®: Large-scale scientific study and network of health systems advancing population genomics and precision medicine research.
• Helix Diagnostics
• Helix GenoSphere™
• Helix Genomic Advantage™
• Helix Precision Pathway™
• Exome+®
• Sequence Once, Query Often® (SOQO®)

Products and services

• Helix Research Network Large-scale scientific study and precision health network pairing Exome+ sequencing with longitudinal clinical data from ~20 partner health systems across 400,000+ participants. Provides the underlying clinico-genomic data asset that powers Helix's population genomics, VUS reclassification, and life sciences research products.
• Helix Diagnostics Clinical-grade genetic testing service covering hereditary cancer (78 genes), cardiovascular genomics (158 genes), pharmacogenomics (198 drug-gene pairs), carrier screening (278 genes), proactive screening, and targeted analyses. Orderable directly through Epic-integrated EHR workflows or the Helix provider portal; turnaround 6-21 days for new patients and <=5 days for existing patients via Sequence Once, Query Often.
• Helix GenoSphere Centralized research data ecosystem for life sciences built on Exome+ sequencing linked to OMOP-harmonized longitudinal clinical data (EHR + claims) across major therapeutic areas. Curated cohorts include autoimmune (>48K), CVRM (>230K), GLP-1 receptor agonists (>54K), and MASH/MAFLD (>25K); powers target discovery, biomarker discovery, prognostic enrichment, Recall-by-Genotype recruitment, and the AI-enabled Cohort Builder.
• Helix Genomic Advantage Subscription-based, PMPM-priced genomic testing program for health plans and at-risk entities that aligns Helix's incentives with its partners. Provides unlimited appropriate clinical testing through Sequence Once, Query Often, guidelines-based germline testing across oncology, cardiology, and pharmacogenomics, no prior authorization, no patient co-pay, and projects $5-10M in 5-year savings for a 200K-member community hospital.
• Helix Precision Pathway Standardized, guideline-concordant genomic care workflow embedded directly into a health system's clinical workflows, designed to simplify fragmented clinical care pathways and enable scalable precision medicine delivery across specialties.
• Helix Cohort Builder (Explorer) AI-enabled digital cohort builder tool on top of the GenoSphere dataset that accepts natural-language and structured queries, returns real-time feasibility estimates with demographic and clinical breakdowns, and exports cohort specifications for research proposals and protocols. Demonstrated capability of surfacing, e.g., 2,847 matching patients (94% with EHR data) from a single natural-language query in April 2026.
• Helix Genetic Risk Assessment Guideline-driven genetic testing workflow that significantly reduces clinical time per patient assessed by streamlining manual review, paperwork, and guideline look-up with a digital-forward workflow. Used by clinicians to identify patients meeting criteria for genomic testing across hereditary cancer, cardiovascular, pharmacogenomics, and carrier screening.
• Helix Fully Hosted Environment Managed, hosted life sciences research platform that provides seamless access to the full GenoSphere dataset without data transfers or infrastructure overhead. Supports custom notebooks, statistical modeling, multi-omic pipelines, and is staffed by Helix scientific experts; serves as an alternative to direct API ingestion into a partner's TRE.

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Nebraska Medicine (UNMC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Launched Helix Genomic Advantage™ on June 16, 2026 to integrate clinical-grade genomic insights into care delivery for employees. Active Helix Research Network® partner with existing large-scale community genomics studies.
• Memorial Hermann Health SystemflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Launched Helix Genomic Advantage™ on June 16, 2026 to improve care and lower total cost across its risk-based population. Active Helix Research Network® partner with existing large-scale community genomics studies.
• St. Luke's University Health NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026First U.S. health system to launch Helix Genomic Advantage™ for its workforce; incorporates germline genomics into routine care. Active Helix Research Network® partner with existing large-scale community genomics studies. Dr. Christopher Chapman (Network Chairman, Pathology, SLUHN) provided customer testimonial.
• Alnylam PharmaceuticalsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Multi-year agreement announced March 5, 2026 providing Alnylam access to Helix's continuously growing, deeply phenotyped GenoSphere™ cohorts covering a wide range of disease areas. Helix GenoSphere™ cohorts consist of Exome+® genomic data, rich longitudinal clinical data, and medical and pharmacy claims. The collaboration supports Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic target identification using human genetics to guide drug discovery across genetically diverse North American patients.
• Mawi DNA TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 10 February 2026Partnership announced February 10, 2026 to integrate Mawi's iSWAB buccal collection technology into Helix's genomic sequencing workflows. Adds cheek swab sample collection to existing blood and saliva methods, enabling broader participation in population genomics including infants, older adults, and people with chronic conditions affecting saliva production.
• GSKflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026Multi-year strategic collaboration announced January 7, 2026 granting GSK access to Helix's GenoSphere™ cohorts containing comprehensive genomic and longitudinal clinical data. Designed to accelerate drug discovery and development by integrating genetics and genomics into GSK's decision-making processes across multiple therapeutic areas.
• University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Partnership announced November 6, 2025 to launch Canada's first population-based genetic screening program (OurGenes Study), aiming to recruit 100,000 participants over five years. Screens for hereditary cancer risk factors including BRCA1/2, Lynch Syndrome, and familial hypercholesterolemia. OurGenes received a $25,000 donation from the Joan Rotondi Hope & Empowerment Foundation through the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
• VeracytecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2025Partnership announced August 7, 2025 to deliver more complete genomic insights in prostate cancer care.
• RecursioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2025Partnership to provide Recursion access to patient genomics data integrated with its Maps of Biology platform for AI-driven drug discovery. Combines forward and reverse genetics with multimodal patient data including whole exome and whole genome sequencing to identify disease associations and generate insights for novel drug targets. Recursion's partnerships with Helix and Tempus support clinical-stage hits in oncology including lung and renal cell cancers.
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Launched the largest precision health initiative in Ohio on July 23, 2024 to screen 100,000 participants over four years for genetic risks related to serious health conditions. Helix Research Network partner.
• QIAGENflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Global strategic agreement announced January 2023 between Helix and QIAGEN for companion diagnostics development. Referenced in next-generation cancer diagnostics market context as an exclusive collaboration to expand access to next-generation sequencing testing for cancer patients.
• TempuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecursion partners with Tempus and Helix for patient genomics data to fuel AI drug discovery and reduce the 90% failure rate in traditional drug discovery via virtual cell modeling and BioHive-2 supercomputer.
• Parkview HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched the DNA Insights program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, providing free genetic screenings for early detection of genetic conditions; aim to enroll 100,000 participants over five years. Identifies predispositions to hereditary cancers and high cholesterol.
• Rochester Regional HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched GenoWell free genetic screening program for hereditary cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and pharmacogenomic insights. Kimberly Provenzano, NP at Rochester Regional Health provided customer testimonial on the Helix Providers page.
• Joan Rotondi Hope & Empowerment FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $25,000 to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation to support the OurGenes Study partnered with Helix, Canada's first population-based genetic screening program recruiting 100,000 participants over five years.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tempus AI: Tempus is the most directly comparable peer — a leading AI-driven precision medicine company offering multi-modal data (including genomics) and analytics to life sciences, with parallel deals to biopharma and a competing clinico-genomic dataset. Helix–Tempus co-serve the same pharma buyers (e.g., Recursion partners with both), making them direct competitors for life-sciences data licensing spend.
• Color Health: Color Health is a population genomics company providing clinical-grade genetic testing at scale for health systems, employers, and life sciences — most directly comparable to Helix's Genomic Advantage and Helix Diagnostics offerings. Color raised at a multi-billion-dollar valuation in 2021 and competes for the same health-system and employer contracts.
• Invitae (now Labcorp Genetics): Invitae (acquired by Labcorp in 2024) is a clinical genetic testing company offering hereditary cancer, cardiovascular, reproductive, and pharmacogenomic testing through a provider-ordered model. Direct competitor to Helix Diagnostics across clinical test menu and reimbursement contracts.
• Natera: Natera is a molecular diagnostics company with strong positions in reproductive health, oncology MRD, and organ transplant monitoring. Competes with Helix Diagnostics on clinical genetic testing menu and provider-channel access.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation Medicine: Foundation Medicine (a Roche subsidiary) is the dominant incumbent in oncology genomics, offering comprehensive genomic profiling and a large clinico-genomic dataset used by biopharma. Comparable to Helix's GenoSphere offering for oncology drug discovery and companion diagnostics development.
• 23andMe Holding Co. 23andMe operates a consumer-facing genetic testing platform and historically licensed its aggregated genotypic data to pharma (e.g., GSK). Although 23andMe's data model is consumer-driven rather than clinical, it competes for the same pharma data-licensing dollars and represents a benchmark for population-scale genomic data commercialization.
• Myriad Genetics: Myriad Genetics is an established molecular diagnostics company with deep franchises in hereditary cancer (BRACAnalysis) and pharmacogenomics. Compares to Helix on hereditary cancer testing and on long-standing biopharma relationships for companion diagnostics and data licensing.
• Exact Sciences: Exact Sciences (formerly Genomic Health) is a major molecular diagnostics company with Cologuard and Oncotype DX franchises and an expanding oncology genomics portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent in cancer-focused genomic testing competing for health-system and biopharma contracts.

Emerging players

• Personalis: Personalis is a cancer genomics company offering whole-genome-based molecular diagnostics and a biopharma data-services business (e.g., ImmunoID Next). Direct competitor to Helix GenoSphere in oncology clinico-genomic data for pharma drug development and companion diagnostics.

Regional players

• Ancestry (AncestryDNA): Ancestry operates one of the largest consumer DNA databases globally (millions of genotyped customers) and has historically licensed aggregated DNA data to pharma (e.g., deal with Calico). Comparable to Helix as a population-scale DNA dataset operator, though its data is consumer-genotype rather than clinical exome-grade.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/my_helix
• Facebookfacebook.com/myhelix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/my-helix

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helix