PNOĒ, a startup based in Malden, Massachusetts, is set to launch its new self-serve breath-analyzing mask, the PNOĒ 2.0, on October 1. The device, which covers the nose and mouth, allows users to measure their VO₂ max and other metabolic markers in eight minutes without needing a trained operator.
Co-founder and CEO Apostolos Atsalakis stated that users can simply wear the mask, push a button, and breathe for eight minutes. This self-serve capability aims to expand the device's use beyond sports labs and hospitals to locations such as fitness centers and potentially pharmacies.
The PNOĒ 2.0 captures 23 biomarkers, including resting metabolic rate and metabolic flexibility, in addition to VO₂ max. While the company claims the device offers the same accuracy as traditional metabolic testing, it is positioned as a wellness device and does not provide medical recommendations, nor is it cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The company, which has raised approximately $22 million, including a recent $11 million round, sells its devices to businesses on a subscription basis. These clients, which include Equinox and Four Seasons hotels, then offer the test to their customers.