Throne Raises $4M to Revolutionize Gut Health with AI Toilet

The Serendipitous Funding of Throne, an AI-Powered Toilet Startup

The story surrounding how the smart toilet company, Throne, secured its initial seed funding is remarkably filled with chance occurrences, almost suggesting a guiding influence akin to Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate.

Based in Austin, Texas, Throne is developing an AI-powered toilet device intended for consumer use. This innovative device utilizes computer vision – employing cameras focused on the bowl and sophisticated AI software – to monitor various aspects of gut health. Recently, the company successfully raised $4 million in seed financing.

This funding round was spearheaded by Katie Jacobs Stanton, founder of Moxxie Ventures, and included participation from numerous other venture capital firms and prominent angel investors. These include Lance Armstrong, Tara Viswanathan, co-founder of Rupa Health, and Justin Mares, founder of TrueMed and creator of brands like Kettle & Fire.

How the Device Works

It’s important to note that Throne isn’t a complete toilet unit, but rather a device designed to be mounted onto existing toilet bowls. Combined with dedicated software, the system analyzes key indicators related to chronic conditions, hydration levels, and urological function – all within the user’s home environment.

To ensure user privacy, the software incorporates controls that anonymize images before they are transmitted to researchers. This commitment to data security is a core principle of Throne’s design.

According to co-founder and CEO Scott Hickle, the device is currently in a pre-production prototype phase, with a planned market launch scheduled for January 2026.

Alongside the seed funding announcement, Throne revealed the appointment of John Capodilupo as its new Chief Product Officer. Capodilupo is widely recognized as the co-founder and former CTO of the WHOOP smartwatch device.

The Origins of Throne: From a Joke to a Viable Startup

The unusual journey of Scott Hickle, a mechanical engineer, and Tim Blumberg, a full-stack software engineer, into the realm of smart toilets began in 2021 during a casual poker game with friends in Austin.

The group playfully brainstormed startup ideas they’d find intriguing but wouldn’t necessarily want to publicly associate with. “Everyone was proposing ideas related to potentially controversial industries – sex, drugs, and rock and roll,” Hickle explained. “Tim then suggested ‘smart toilets.’ I immediately responded that it would be hilarious to name such a company Throne.”

A Pivotal Moment

The idea remained dormant until 2023, when the startup Hickle and Blumberg were previously working on – a nurse-hiring software platform – ultimately failed to gain traction.

Facing the need for a new direction, they contacted their investors, offering either a fresh concept or a return of the invested funds. Unexpectedly, one investor inquired, “Have you guys ever considered smart toilets?” The founders were surprised, recalling, “We had actually named that company! It’s Throne.”

This coincidence was taken as a clear signal to pursue the idea. They began extensive research, consulting with Hickle’s mother, a physician specializing in gerontology. She confirmed the potential medical benefits of analyzing human waste, sharing numerous examples of patients willingly providing such samples.

Her insights confirmed that waste analysis could provide valuable information for monitoring a range of chronic conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, various colon cancers, chronic kidney disease, and enlarged prostate. It could also aid in identifying or tracking conditions through the analysis of other bodily fluids, such as menstrual blood.

Driven by a family history in medicine – Hickle’s father also had experience inventing medical devices – the potential to prevent chronic condition flare-ups or detect life-threatening cancers proved highly motivating.

Overcoming Initial Skepticism

Despite their enthusiasm, the co-founders recognized their lack of experience in hardware product development. One of their existing investors was so unconvinced by the concept that they requested a refund of their investment. “That was a difficult moment,” Hickle admitted, citing both the financial loss and the resulting blow to their confidence.

However, following the return of those funds, they encountered a greater number of individuals who embraced the potential of their idea, ultimately bolstering their resolve to move forward.

An Unexpected Encounter with Lance Armstrong

Connections cultivated in Austin facilitated an introduction to Lance Armstrong’s business manager, ultimately leading to a direct pitch to Armstrong himself. The celebrated cyclist is well-known for his battle with testicular cancer.

This culminated in a remarkably unusual experience: waiting outside the athlete’s bathroom, following the installation of a prototype, for his assessment, as Hickle recounted. Armstrong promptly issued a check in support.

Building a Team Through Connections

While not every meeting resulted in funding, many yielded valuable introductions, notably to Capodilupo, who also provided initial investment. Capodilupo had openly discussed his experience with ulcerative colitis and served on the board of trustees for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Crucially, Capodilupo possessed the necessary expertise in device manufacturing. Months of persuasion were required to convince him to not only invest financially, but also to become a co-founder of the company.

The introduction to Jacobs Stanton, a prominent seed investor, proved equally fortuitous. Hickle’s long-standing friendship with Viswanathan of Rupa Health facilitated this connection.

Research Partnerships and Serendipity

Further coincidences led to partnerships with researchers at the University of Washington and The University of Chicago, who are currently validating the efficacy of the product’s software. These collaborations are considered vital to the company’s potential for success.

The University of Washington partnership arose from a chance encounter; a friend of Hickle’s happened to be seated next to a urology researcher on a flight and shared information about Throne, subsequently making the introduction.

Similarly, The University of Chicago connection originated through a friend of Hickle’s who introduced him to his uncle, a renowned gastroenterologist. This uncle also held a position on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s board and was acquainted with Capodilupo.

Luck and Momentum

The founders have developed an internal joke acknowledging their consistent good fortune, stating that “it’s better to be lucky than good, and we just get so dumb lucky. All the time,” according to Hickle. He also expressed a belief that favorable market conditions suggest “the world wants us to do this.”

Additional investors participating in the seed round include Accomplice, Long Journey Ventures, V1.VC, Night Capital, Retron VC, and Myelin Ventures.

Note: A correction has been made to this article to accurately reflect the type of cancer Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with.