Anne Wojcicki Stages $305M Nonprofit Takeover to Reclaim 23andMe

Founder pulls off a nine-figure power move—because nothing says ''mission-driven'' like a nonprofit writing a check with eight zeros.

How Wojcicki outmaneuvered Wall Street''s vultures

The genetics giant was circling the drain after a brutal year of stock plunges and data breaches. Enter its co-founder with a lifeline disguised as altruism—$305 million in nonprofit funding to wrest back control. No IPOs, no VC middlemen—just cold hard cash from donors who apparently missed the fine print.

The new era of ''philanthro-capitalism''

Forget hostile takeovers. The playbook now? Spin up a 501(c)(3), rally do-gooder investors, and quietly convert their idealism into equity. Wojcicki''s masterstroke proves nonprofits are just hedge funds with better PR—and tax exemptions.

One cynical footnote: At least this $305M didn''t go to another crypto scam.

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The acquisition includes 23andMe’s Core business lines: the Personal Genome Service, research services, and its telehealth arm, Lemonaid Health. TTAM, whose name reflects the phrase “The Truth About Me,” plans to preserve the company’s original mission while shifting focus toward consumer empowerment and long-term scientific research.

While MEHCQ stock has been trading over-the-counter (OTC), it has surged over 69% year-to-date, with recent gains attributed to Wojcicki’s nonprofit buyout bid. While the company remains in Chapter 11, investor Optimism has pushed the stock to its highest level this year.

New Model, New Priorities

As a nonprofit, 23andMe will MOVE away from profit-driven growth and instead prioritize sustainability, research, and public health. The company is expected to rely more on grants and donations, streamline operations, and shift its focus toward ethical data use, transparency, and partnerships with academic and public institutions. Revenues have already declined from $299.5 million in 2023 to $219.6 million in 2024 and may fall further; however, the nonprofit model positions the company to rebuild around trust and long-term impact.

Privacy Commitments Take Center Stage

TTAM has promised to maintain 23andMe’s existing privacy policies, which allow users to delete their data and opt out of research at any time. It has also outlined additional safeguards.

A Consumer Privacy Advisory Board will be created within 90 days of the closing to monitor policy decisions and advise on data handling. TTAM will also implement stronger internal privacy procedures, issue annual privacy reports, and notify users of any significant changes to its privacy policies. For added protection, customers will receive two years of free identity theft monitoring through Experian.

Only de-identified data will be used for research, and donations or collaborations from select countries will be restricted. The changes follow a 2023 data breach that affected nearly 7 million customers, with 2 million users requesting data deletions in the past two months.

Once valued at nearly $6 billion, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 in March 2025 after years of declining revenue and a boardroom rift. Under TTAM, its future may now hinge on regaining trust and prioritizing science over shareholder interests.