WeGene
WeGene is a Shenzhen-based direct-to-consumer and clinical genomics company, founded in 2014, that sells Chinese-population-optimised genotyping and whole-genome sequencing kits plus methylation-based aging tests to Chinese consumers, hospital pharmacogenomics programs and large academic research cohorts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersShenzhen, China
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What WeGene does
WeGene (Shenzhen Zaozhidao Technology Co., Ltd. / 深圳市早知道科技有限公司) is a Shenzhen-headquartered direct-to-consumer and clinical genomics company founded in 2014 that operates a multi-tiered personal genome testing platform for the Chinese population. Its core offering consists of microarray-chip genotyping kits (Basic ¥599, Standard ¥799) and whole-genome sequencing kits (Youth ¥2,499, Full ¥3,999) covering ~750k SNPs to >30 billion bases respectively, and generating 900+ reports across ancestry, health risk, nutrition, psychology, exercise, skin and pharmacogenomics categories. A self-developed Chinese Genotyping Array (CGA), co-developed with Illumina and built on 100,000+ Chinese genomes, powers the consumer and clinical pipelines, and is processed at what the company describes as China's largest automated iScan genotyping chip laboratory and the first domestic DNBSEQ-T7 sequencing laboratory, with stated throughput exceeding 1 million samples annually.
The business model is a hybrid of DTC and B2B revenue streams with one-time perpetual-license pricing. The DTC channel distributes through the official website, mobile app, WeChat Mini Program and Tmall storefront, while a parallel international channel (English website with USD pricing) supports overseas users with raw-data import/compatibility for 23andMe, AncestryDNA and MyHeritage via the $29.99 UltraReport service. Enterprise revenue comes from clinical pharmacogenomics panels sold to 100+ psychiatric and tertiary hospitals (psychiatric drug sensitivity covering 87 drugs across 7 categories, pediatric medication safety covering 110 drugs, coronary heart disease precision medicine, diabetes risk assessment) and large-scale research collaborations (e.g., the 200,000-participant Fudan Taizhou Cohort, the 18,000-sample perioperative cohort at West China Hospital, the 6,000-WGS COPD cohort at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, and the PLA 301 Hospital multi-center coronary cohort). The 2024 launch of the 悦龄Bio+ methylation-based aging detection line (¥2,249–¥2,499) extends the offering into epigenomics with biological age, organ age, telomere length and immune-function metrics across 270,000 CpG sites, and the company operates an open developer API (api.wegene.com) plus integrations with third-party apps (GeneU, SNPedia, GEDmatch, TheYtree).
WeGene has received 100M+ RMB of disclosed funding led by BGI Genomics, Puhua Capital and Beike Society, holds National High-Tech Enterprise (2017), Shenzhen Specialized & Innovative SME (2023), "Little Giant" (November 2024) and national genomic-data-security standards participation credentials, and maintains medical testing laboratories in Shenzhen (Pingshan) and Hong Kong (Tsim Sha Tsui) in addition to its Futian headquarters. Backed co-founding investor BGI Genomics provides both capital and a DNBSEQ-T7 sequencing platform relationship that underpins the WGS product.
WeGene firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WeGene
- Legal name
- 深圳市早知道科技有限公司
- Website
- https://wegene.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- WeGene is a Shenzhen-based direct-to-consumer and clinical genomics company, founded in 2014, that sells Chinese-population-optimised genotyping and whole-genome sequencing kits plus methylation-based aging tests to Chinese consumers, hospital pharmacogenomics programs and large academic research cohorts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WeGene industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Genomics Services
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Genetic & Prenatal Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Population Genomics & Preventive Precision Health Programs (HLAAANAL), Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF), Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL)
Keywords
Where WeGene is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shenzhen
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
WeGene business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: One-time purchase model for personal genome testing kits sold directly to consumers. Products include Basic Version (¥599), Standard Version (¥799), Whole Genome Sequencing Youth Version (¥2,499), and Full WGS (¥3,999). Revenue is generated from initial kit sales with终身免费更新 (lifetime report updates) included.
- Epigenetic Aging Detection: Sale of WeGene 悦龄Bio+ methylation-based aging detection tests, including micro-needle version (¥2,499) and finger-prick blood version (¥2,249). These tests provide biological age, organ age, telomere length, immune function, and exposure damage assessments.
- Clinical Pharmacogenomics Testing: B2B sales of pharmacogenomics testing services to hospitals and clinical institutions for psychiatric drug sensitivity, children's medication safety, coronary heart disease precision medication, and diabetes risk assessment.
- Scientific Research Services: Comprehensive research platform services for large-scale population cohort studies, including sample storage, information management, DNA extraction, genetic sequencing, chip detection, population data analysis, and follow-up services.
- Enterprise Bulk Purchasing: Corporate employee health benefit programs providing genetic testing as part of employee wellness packages.
- UltraReport Service (International): International market offering raw data import and analysis service at $29.99 USD for users who have existing genetic data from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene Basic Version - Entry-level personal genome testing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene Standard Version - Core personal genome testing product |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene Whole Genome Sequencing Youth Version |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene Whole Genome Sequencing (Full WGS) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene 悦龄Bio+ Aging Detection - Finger-prick Blood Version |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene 悦龄Bio+ Aging Detection - Micro-needle Version |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene Standard Test Kit (International) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene WGS Test Kit (International) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | WeGene UltraReport Service (International) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
WeGene product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WeGene operates a personal genomics platform that provides direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits (microarray chip-based and whole genome sequencing) with methylation-based aging detection (悦龄Bio+), clinical pharmacogenomics testing for hospitals, and population genomics research services for academic institutions. The company processes DNA samples at its Shenzhen and Hong Kong laboratories using its self-developed Chinese Genotyping Array (CGA) and BGI's DNBSEQ-T7 high-throughput sequencer, generating lifetime-updated health, ancestry, drug-response, and aging reports for consumers plus clinical decision-support for healthcare providers.
Product overview
WeGene operates a multi-tiered personal genomics platform centered on consumer genetic testing products with clinical and research extensions. The core consumer offerings include three microarray-based testing tiers (基础版 at ¥599, 标准版 3.0 at ¥799 with 900+ reports, and full WGS options at ¥2,499-3,999 with 3 billion base coverage), supplemented by the 悦龄Bio+ methylation-based aging detection product line (¥2,249-2,499) that extends genomics into the epigenomics domain. Clinical services provide pharmacogenomics panels for psychiatric medications, pediatric safety, cardiovascular precision medicine, and diabetes management. The platform also includes an UltraReport imputation service for data import from competing services, third-party application integrations (GeneU, SNPedia, GEDmatch, TheYtree), and research collaboration infrastructure supporting large population cohort studies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 悦龄Bio+: Epigenetic age testing service using methylation detection technology for measuring biological age, organ age, telomere length, immune function, and exposure damage
- CGA (Chinese Genotyping Array)
Products and services
- WeGene Personal Genome Test - Basic Version (检测基础版)
- WeGene Personal Genome Test - Standard Version 3.0 (检测标准版 3.0)
- WeGene Whole Genome Sequencing - Youth Version (全基因组测序青春版)
- WeGene Whole Genome Sequencing - Full Version (全基因组测序)
- WeGene 悦龄Bio+ Aging Detection - Fingertip Blood Version (衰老检测指血版)
- WeGene 悦龄Bio+ Aging Detection - Microneedle Version (衰老检测微针版)
- Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics Testing (精神类药物基因检测)
- Pediatric Safe Medication Genetic Testing (儿童安全用药基因检测)
- Coronary Heart Disease Precision Medication Genetic Testing (冠心病精准用药基因检测)
- Diabetes Risk Assessment Four-in-One Genetic Testing (糖尿病风险评估四合一基因检测)
- WeGene UltraReport Service
- Population Genomics Research Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 900 official reports covering 15 major categories including health risks, hereditary diseases, ancestry, nutrition, and psychology
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use WeGene
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
WeGene technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
WeGene partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (香港科技大学)coreStrategic partnership signed in April 2019 for genomic big data and AI development, with续签 (renewal) of strategic cooperation agreement in March 2024. Joint research in genomic AI applications.
- IlluminacoreStrategic partnership established in April 2018 to serve Asian markets, jointly releasing the Chinese Genotyping Array (CGA).
- BGI Technology (华大科技)coreStrategic partnership for personal genome health management services.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (赛默飞世尔)supportingStrategic partnership in personal genome health management field.
- DNA GenoteksupportingLong-term cooperation agreement signed in February 2017 for personal genome sample collection devices (ORAcollect·DNA OCR-100).
- BGI Zhiyuan (华大智造)corePartnership launching the 'Everyone's Genome Era' initiative using BGI's DNBSEQ-T7 sequencer. WeGene is China's first DNBSEQ-T7 laboratory. DCS empowerment program launched for Chinese scientists.
- Fudan University Taizhou Health Science Research InstitutecoreCollaborative research on Taizhou Cohort study - a 200,000 person population-based cohort established in 2007 with 1.5 million biological samples.
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversitycoreCo-building cognitive disorder clinical cohort study with three sub-cohorts (cognitive normal, Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment) for research on cognitive disorder mechanisms.
- China-Japan Friendship HospitalcoreCollaboration on China Adult Lung Health (COPD) research cohort with 6,000 whole genome sequencing samples completed.
- PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital)coreLed by Academician Gao Changqing, establishing large-scale coronary heart disease patient follow-up cohort across 8 clinical centers, exploring big data health management and pharmacogenomics applications.
- West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversitysupportingPerioperative surgical population cohort study examining genetic, immune-inflammatory, and endocrine factors affecting post-surgical prognosis.
- Peking University First HospitalsupportingKidney disease mechanism and population cohort study analyzing GWAS data to reveal lupus nephritis immune mechanisms and establish phenotype-genotype relationships.
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and HealthsupportingPopulation phenomics and genomics cohort studying skin appearance phenotypes and their interaction with genes using system omics and AI methods.
- Peking University School of Psychology and Cognitive SciencessupportingResearch on stress and psychological traits studying genetic factors and childhood experiences, pressure perception, and future orientation correlations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WeGene competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 23andMe: Pioneer of DTC genetic testing with microarray-based ancestry and health reports. Directly comparable product model and pricing architecture; also a source of inbound raw-data users for WeGene's UltraReport service. Recent bankruptcy and pivot illustrate category-level risk.
- AncestryDNA: Global DTC genetic testing leader focused on ancestry with health add-ons. Comparable product mechanics (microarray chip, online reports) and overlap with WeGene's raw-data import program, though its primary orientation is genealogy rather than health.
- MyHeritage: DTC genetic testing with ancestry and health offerings, particularly strong in European markets. WeGene supports MyHeritage raw-data import, indicating overlapping customer profiles; comparable product packaging and consumer positioning.
- 23Mofang (23魔方): Leading Chinese direct-to-consumer genetic testing company offering microarray-based personal genome tests with similar ancestry, health and trait reports. Closest head-to-head competitor in the China DTC genomics market with overlapping product positioning and pricing tiers.
Regional players
- Annoroad (安诺优达): Chinese genomics company offering clinical and research sequencing services. Comparable in clinical genetic testing and hospital channel sales in China, with overlap in reproductive health and oncology-adjacent panels.
- Novogene (诺禾致源): Major Chinese genomics services provider focused on research-grade sequencing and bioinformatics. Overlaps with WeGene's research collaborations and B2B sequencing services, though Novogene's primary market is academic and pharma research rather than consumer.
Emerging players
- Helix: US-based population genomics and DNA-app-store platform. Comparable in operating a sequencing infrastructure layer that powers third-party applications and in integrating external data sources for interpretation — analogous to WeGene's open API strategy.
- Prenetics / CircleDNA: Asia-focused consumer genomics brand offering WGS-based premium testing. Comparable premium-tier WGS product (~USD pricing) and similar expansion into lifestyle and health insights; relevant benchmark for WeGene's higher-end WGS and international pricing strategy.
Broad incumbents
- BGI Genomics (华大基因): China's dominant genomics company and WeGene's largest strategic investor. Operates DTC testing, clinical genomics and large-scale sequencing services at much greater scale; competes with WeGene on hospital B2B and DTC while supplying core sequencing technology.
- iCarbonX (碳云智能): Chinese AI-driven health data platform combining multi-omics, including consumer genetic testing. Comparable positioning at the intersection of genomics and consumer health/longevity, and a relevant benchmark for WeGene's methylation-based aging extension.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WeGene social profiles
Digital presenceWeGene compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
WeGene financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WeGene leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WeGene subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
WeGene funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WeGene M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WeGene
What does WeGene do?
WeGene operates a personal genomics platform that provides direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits (microarray chip-based and whole genome sequencing) with methylation-based aging detection (悦龄Bio+), clinical pharmacogenomics testing for hospitals, and population genomics research services for academic institutions. The company processes DNA samples at its Shenzhen and Hong Kong laboratories using its self-developed Chinese Genotyping Array (CGA) and BGI's DNBSEQ-T7 high-throughput sequencer, generating lifetime-updated health, ancestry, drug-response, and aging reports for consumers plus clinical decision-support for healthcare providers.
Is WeGene a public or private company?
WeGene is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was WeGene founded?
WeGene was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is WeGene based?
WeGene is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, in the Asia region.
How does WeGene make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing is the primary driver. The others are epigenetic Aging Detection, clinical Pharmacogenomics Testing, scientific Research Services, enterprise Bulk Purchasing and ultraReport Service (International).
Who are WeGene's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage and 23Mofang (23魔方). Regional players are Annoroad (安诺优达) and Novogene (诺禾致源). Emerging players are Helix and Prenetics / CircleDNA. Broad incumbents are BGI Genomics (华大基因) and iCarbonX (碳云智能).
Does WeGene have an API?
Yes. WeGene offers an open developer platform at api.wegene.com providing access to their genomic data services. The platform enables developers to build applications that integrate with WeGene genetic testing data. Documentation is available at https://api.wegene.com/docs/ Developer documentation is at api.wegene.com/docs.
What industry is WeGene in?
WeGene's product category is Personal Genomics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAMAH, Genetic & Prenatal Testing Laboratories, with a secondary code of HLAAALAD, Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics). Its NAICS code is 621511 and its SIC code is 8071.