In an exclusive interaction with MediaBrief, Dr. Sajeev Nair, Founder–Chairman of the Bengaluru-based health-tech startup Vieroots Wellness Solutions, speaks about the convergence of genomics, neuroscience, and ancient wellness wisdom. Nair also shares insights on personalized lifestyle management, AI-driven preventive health solutions, and the journey toward making longevity and human optimization a reality.
Vieroots is pioneering a holistic approach combining genomics, neuroscience, and ancient wellness wisdom. On how he envisioned integrating such diverse disciplines into a single ecosystem, its Founder–Chairman Dr. Sajeev Nair explains, “When I started delving deeper into genomics, neuroscience and ancient wellness wisdom, starting from around two decades back, I realized more of their convergence rather than their divergence. I will explain this with a simple example. The cutting-edge of preventive health-tech today is genomics based personalized lifestyle management. Under this, we first detect genetic risks for developing physical & mental diseases as well as performance issues.
“Then,” he continues, “we prescribe research-validated lifestyle modifications that can keep these risks at bay. I found an ancient echo of this ultra-modern approach – personalized diagnosis and personalized lifestyles – in Ayurveda’s concepts of ‘prakriti’ and ‘pathya’ respectively. While genomics-based diagnosis is much more precise than prakriti, I also found that many Ayurvedic pathya or lifestyle changes are still invaluable.”
Building a Biohacking culture in India
When asked about the unique challenges and opportunities of creating a “biohacking culture” in India, where preventive health is still a nascent concept, Nair says, “The main challenge is that prevention is still not fully believed in as something achievable. This stems from a lack of awareness regarding the efficacy of genetics based personalized lifestyle management or biohacking, which is vastly different from the minimal impact of generic lifestyle advice like sleep more, eat less or move more. Doctors who already have their hands full with reactive treatments, also don’t promote this, as it is not yet part of their professional training.
“However,” he says, “as the founder of India’s first genomic lifestyle management startup, Vieroots, what really inspires us is how fast the biohacking culture is catching on in India. We are only less than 5 years old, but we could already transform more than 10,000 lives through our genomic lifestyle management solution, Eplimo. And this has been largely through word-of-mouth publicity. More people are willing to take charge of their health via biohacking, and that is the biggest opportunity here.”
Translating complex genomic data into everyday action
On translating complex scientific data into actionable lifestyle interventions for everyday users, Nair informs, “Even one individual’s raw genomic data can run into terabytes. We use AI based analytical tools to make probable detections of disease risks from this kind of huge data. For this, Eplimo tests for 275+ genetic markers that cover almost all common and even rare lifestyle diseases. The genetic test itself is an easy, self-administered one, being saliva based. We also match it with a detailed metabolic assessment of that individual to properly correlate and thus eliminate any false positives.
He continues, “Then comes the task of prescribing research-validated lifestyle modifications that can keep the detected disease risks at bay. This too is a formidable task, as we go beyond just diet or exercise, and is made manageable only via AI. Our personalized lifestyle suggestions are 360 degrees in nature, spanning diet, nutrition, supplements, exercise, yoga, meditation, breathwork, counselling and more. Such a targeted yet comprehensive approach is what made Eplimo’s adoption rapid.”
Privacy, consent, and ethical concerns in preventive health
Addressing concerns around privacy, consent, and ethics in health data, Nair asserts, “Consumer interest in extending longevity or lifespan, and even more importantly health span, is one of the key drivers of genomic lifestyle management. In other words, people not only want to live longer, but live those extended years or span healthily and productively. Even amid such influx of new clients – whether they are hypervigilant of privacy concerns or oblivious of it – Vieroots is a health-tech firm that has an ethical approach that guards privacy and takes all necessary consent.”
Investor belief vs. awareness-driven growth
On the role of investor belief in scaling futuristic health solutions in India, Nair clarifies, “We no longer have that tie-up, which was explored in our first year of operation. Now, into our 5th year of steady growth, we remain true to our preventive mission as a bootstrapped startup. I personally believe that while investor belief in the biohacker economy won’t hurt, it is never going to be the prime factor driving the scaling up of futuristic health solutions in a country like India. The prime driver will remain better awareness about the need for taking charge of one’s own health.”
Making “living 100+” scientifically achievable
Discussing the feasibility of making “living 100+” scientifically achievable, he says, “We are very near to achieving it, maybe just one or two decades away. Some may find it difficult to believe, but it is due to a lack of awareness about the history of India’s average lifespan. In the 1950s, our average lifespan was just 35 years! During the next 8 decades until now, it more than doubled to around 73 years. How this dramatic change happened is simple – we eliminated or contained many killer infections like smallpox, malaria, TB, plague, dysentery, pneumonia, HIV, fevers etc.
“Similarly,” he says, “genomic lifestyle management solutions can detect and help prevent the new breed of killer lifestyle diseases, like, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, COPD, organ failures, autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions etc. Just like how vaccines played a big role in doubling the lifespan from 35 to 70+, between 1950 to 2025, genomic solutions will help prevent these new killers, before they develop, and take lifespans easily to near 100 or 100+.”
The future of preventive health in India
On the segments driving growth in India’s preventive health space, Nair observes, “Genomics will undoubtedly witness the highest growth in our country. Because whether it is lifestyle optimization or mental fitness, a sharp improvement is only possible by basing it solidly on the foundation of genomics. Despite transforming the lives of 10,000+ clients during our first 5 years itself, the scope that India offers is clearly of a different magnitude. On one hand, we are the most populous nation on the planet, and on the other hand, we are the capital of key lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.”
He adds on Indian-specific genetics and lifestyle patterns, “Yes, definitely. We encounter such Indian or South Asian specialities in genes almost daily. This helps us detect future disease risks better and suggest better lifestyle modifications more proven to work in Indians. Recently, we have started disseminating key research findings from our extensive work with Eplimo’s Indian clients. We have started off with insights into cardiovascular diseases and psychological conditions, with more to follow soon.”
Vieroots’ Marketing and communication strategy
Speaking about Vieroots’ marketing and communication approach, Nair says, “We are a knowledge-based firm, and our products are mainly direct-to-consumer and hence spreading better awareness about the need for taking charge of one’s own health, and the genomic preventive tools available for it, remains our key communications strategy. Conventional advertisements or advertorials won’t work effectively in this regard, and hence myself, our co-founders, research leaders, and key doctors reach out to the public via almost all communication channels including events, print, web, tv and social media.”
Roadmap for 2026: Health super app and wearables
Looking ahead to 2026, Nair outlines, “We have developed a health super app, Trigr, that has many firsts to its credit in India. These include an AI based face scan that works like a bloodless blood test, an AI fitness coach that perfects your form in real time, and a biological age finder. This smartphone app works with leading brands of wearables and smartwatches, and we are also developing our own Trigr family of wearables like smart rings with exceptional capabilities.
“The prime objective behind the Trigr app and ecosystem is to give Eplimo clients real time feedback from wearables about the progress they are making by following the suggested lifestyle modifications,” says Nair.
Nair continues, “Vieroots is also heavily into precision nutrition. This started off to meet the needs of our own clients to source highest quality supplements that were not available in India, like Krill Oil, NAD+, herbal probiotic / prebiotics blends etc. Our R&D division has also developed several unique supplements like Curcumin Latte, which is a curcumin plus MCT oil formulation effective against inflammation and pain, and Vie.Cafe which is a high-quality coffee infused with select herbs that balances coffee’s benefits perfectly.
“And apart from EPLIMO which tests for hundreds of diseases in one go, we have disease-specific optimization programs like our DNA Based Weight Loss Program which is the first of its kind in the country, and a breakthrough product in losing weight in even those for whom no dieting solution has worked,” concludes Nair.
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