Throne

Throne Science is an Austin, Texas-based consumer health hardware company that builds a sensor which clips onto the rim of a standard toilet and, together with a companion mobile app, automatically produces readings on gut health, hydration, urinary flow and bathroom habits. The device requires no plumbing work or professional installation, activates when a user sits down, and requires no manual logging or sample collection. Gut health is assessed through stool form and frequency using the Bristol Stool Scale, and results are presented as simple daily scores and longer-term weekly and monthly trends rather than clinical readouts.

The flagship product, Throne One, sells for $399 with a $5.99 per month membership (first three months included). It has a 30-day battery, an IP65 water-resistance rating, wipe-clean construction, and supports up to six private accounts per device, with users identified automatically by phone proximity or a personal button. The company emphasizes privacy: the camera faces down toward the bowl only, data is encrypted, and users can export a 90-day report or CSV of their data or request deletion. A Gut Health AI coach lets users ask questions about their data, and wearable synchronization is listed as a planned feature.

The platform uses computer vision and AI to detect patterns over time — for example how food, travel, stress, medications such as GLP-1s, or colonoscopy prep show up in a user's gut and hydration data. The company states a long-term mission of building the first at-home continuous screener for early signs of colorectal cancer and cancers of the urinary tract.

Founding story

Co-founder Scott Hickle and co-founder Tim had discussed smart toilets for years before a conversation with Hickle's mother, a geriatrician, convinced them to pursue the idea; she affirmed the medical utility of waste and noted she had stopped sharing her phone number with patients because of how many photos of their stool they sent. Researching gut health, they concluded that tens of millions of people in the US live with conditions manifesting in the GI and urinary tracts while gut health and hydration remain untracked by wearables. Tim is an engineer who previously built self-driving car simulations and encrypted databases. Co-founder and Chief Product Officer John Capodilupo was previously co-founder and CTO of WHOOP, where he spent a decade working on continuous health insights; he lives with ulcerative colitis and is a patient advocate with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Business model

Hardware plus subscription: customers buy the Throne One device outright and pay a recurring monthly membership for app-based scores, trends and insights. The company also operates a partner channel for practitioners, retailers and brands.

One-time device sales at $399 combined with a $5.99/month membership per user, with the first three months of membership included; purchases are marketed as HSA/FSA eligible.

Traction

The company reports that 58% of members improve their hydration habits within their first two weeks. Coverage has appeared in Crunchbase, TechCrunch, Men's Fitness and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, and the company cites gastroenterologist and member testimonials.

Latest developments

In July 2026 Throne Science closed a $10M Series A led by Will Ventures, with proceeds directed at hiring and R&D. The product line includes a Gut Health AI coach that answers user questions about their data, and wearable synchronization is listed as coming soon.