Onix Raises $5M for Privacy-First AI Wellness Expert App

Montreal-based startup Onix has successfully closed a $5 million USD pre-seed funding round, aiming to revolutionize the health and wellness advice sector with a novel approach to artificial intelligence. The capital infusion, led by AlphaEdison, with significant contributions from Garage Capital, Ride Home Fund, United Talent Agency co-founder Jeremy Zimmer, and Real Ventures co-founder Jean-Sébastien Cournoyer, will fuel the development of its unique AI-powered platform.

Onix differentiates itself by creating AI personas, termed 'onixes,' derived from actual health and wellness practitioners. Unlike mainstream AI applications that often rely on vast user data, Onix partners directly with experts—ranging from psychiatrists to nutritionists and former athletes—to train its models on their proprietary knowledge and content. This strategy not only addresses growing consumer concerns about data privacy but also establishes a distinct data sourcing model. As co-founder Nicholas Nadeau explained, "We don’t want our users’ data. We don’t have a data bottleneck because our experts bring us all the data." This allows users to access personalized advice without the typical data-sharing trade-offs prevalent in the consumer tech space.

The company's innovative data strategy is a direct response to widespread public apprehension surrounding AI. Co-founder David Bennahum highlighted this sentiment, noting that "AI is the most disliked new technology ever polled, probably since atomic weapons." Onix's commitment to privacy is further underscored by its use of smaller, locally run AI models. Bennahum claims their inference costs are a fraction of larger models, and crucially, all chat data is stored on users' devices, with no conversation logs retained centrally. This architecture is designed to prevent any data from being transmitted to servers, offering a robust shield against potential breaches and misuse.

This funding round positions Onix to challenge the dominant paradigm in AI development, where user data is often the primary commodity. By focusing on curated content from verified professionals, Onix aims to build trust in a market increasingly wary of AI's implications. The platform will offer users subscription-based access to these AI 'experts,' with practitioners receiving a substantial 70% revenue share for their contributions, while Onix retains 30%. This revenue-sharing model incentivizes expert participation and ensures the quality and authenticity of the AI-generated advice, which is strictly non-medical.

The health and wellness market is experiencing significant digital transformation, with consumers actively seeking accessible and personalized support. The global digital health market is projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years, driven by advancements in AI and a growing emphasis on preventative care and mental well-being. Onix's focus on privacy-preserving AI, combined with expert-backed content, taps into a critical unmet need within this expanding sector. The company, currently a team of 10, is actively hiring for go-to-market and sales roles as it prepares for a wider public launch of its iOS application.