For iCarbonX, success is in the genes

Founded by Wang Jun, a former chief executive and co-founder of genome sequencing giant Beijing Genomics Institute BGI, healthcare technology start-up iCarbonX intends to mine and interpret genomic data from at least one million Chinese people in the next five years.

Having raised more than $600 million from backers including Tencent and listed cell and gene engineering firms, iCarbonX became in April last year the youngest start-up to reach a $1 billion valuation. It is one of the only three healthcare unicorns in China after United Imaging Healthcare $5 billion and GuaHao $1.5 billion, according to CB Insights data,

“We picked partners that could...