Platos Health (formerly Zest), a Nigerian health-tech startup focused on preventive care, has secured $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to scale its AI-driven metabolic health platform, Platos Monitor, and expand distribution of its proprietary health-tracking device. The funding round was led by Google for Startups, with participation from Invest International and a group of angel investors affiliated with Google, Tesla, and UniCredit.
Founded in 2020 by Joseph Fakayode, Platos Health is part of a new wave of African health startups seeking to shift the conversation from treatment to prevention. Its core product, the Platos Body Monitor, is a medical-grade device that allows individuals to measure and track 49 health metrics — including heart rate, body fat levels, hydration status, and body mass index (BMI) — from home. The accompanying software, available via mobile and web platforms, integrates with health data ecosystems such as Apple Health and Google Health Connect.
Platos’ ambition is rooted in a growing national health crisis. Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, faces a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. According to national estimates, over 8 million Nigerians are living with diabetes, and nearly one in three adults has a chronic condition. Yet, access to care remains limited: the country has only about 500 cardiologists, and a significant proportion of healthcare professionals continue to emigrate in search of better working conditions abroad.
Against this backdrop, Platos Health aims to empower individuals to monitor their own health at a time when the country’s healthcare system is overstretched. “We saw a gap. Health isn’t just clinical; it’s personal,” Fakayode said in an interview. “Platos Monitor brings that power to Nigerians first.”
The company’s hardware, priced between ₦80,000 ($50) and ₦120,000 ($80), is distributed through a network of 300 pharmacies, including Medplus, Justrite, and Alpha Pharmacy. Although the cost exceeds Nigeria’s current minimum monthly wage of ₦70,000 (approximately $44), the company is initially targeting urban, high-income households, with the long-term aim of broader affordability.
Beyond hardware, Platos uses Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence platform to deliver personalized health summaries and insights. These include distinctions between types of body fat — visceral versus subcutaneous — and recommendations to mitigate age-related muscle loss or improve hydration. Fakayode said the platform is primarily designed for urban women and health-conscious men, groups that often contend with the compounded effects of poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles.
According to the company, about 33% of users achieved “clinically significant” weight loss within three months of use. A user satisfaction survey conducted by the startup found that nearly 60% of respondents would feel “disappointed” without access to Platos, indicating early traction in its target market.
Unlike global competitors such as Omron, Withings, Fitbit, and Qardio, which often focus on individuals already managing existing health conditions, Platos positions itself as a tool for early detection. The company’s focus on “hidden fat” and undiagnosed metabolic risk is a differentiator it hopes will resonate across markets where preventative care is either inaccessible or unaffordable.
Still, competition looms. Companies like Omron have decades of clinical validation and are recommended by physicians globally. Platos, by contrast, is still building clinical credibility. To this end, it is working with medical advisors including Professor Hanno Pijl, a Dutch specialist in metabolic health, and Dr. Jimoh Itopa, a Nigerian researcher, to bolster the scientific foundation of its technology. The team also draws inspiration from researchers like Dr. William Li, who advocates for food-based approaches to metabolic health.
The startup estimates that the local market opportunity for its offering is at least $30 million. But turning potential into performance will require more than funding. Platos must prove that its product can evolve from a premium gadget to a trusted health intervention, especially in a country where affordability remains a barrier and access to diagnostics is patchy.
For now, its approach reflects a broader trend in African healthcare — startups stepping in to fill systemic gaps left by underfunded public health systems. Whether Platos can maintain this momentum and expand its reach beyond early adopters remains to be seen. But with chronic diseases quietly on the rise, the company is betting that Nigerians are ready to take preventive care into their own hands — literally.