FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, Matthew Rabinowitz’s sister gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, who died six days later. The family was devastated—and entirely blindsided, as the screening tests available at the time had missed the baby’s condition.
Rabinowitz, who had previously co-founded an online merchandising firm and a location based service technology company, knew exactly what he wanted to do next. “There were inventions to be made in the area of biology,” he says. “It was so much more meaningful than what I had been doing.”
His San Carlos, California–based company is now a player in the crowded field of noninvasive prenatal testing, a $665 million-plus global market, according to Persistence Market Research. Natera’s flagship product, Panorama, can pick up on fetal chromosomal issues at nine weeks, by analyzing traces of fetal cells that circulate in the mother’s blood. The screening test requires only a blood draw, and can be performed at a much earlier stage in the pregnancy than more invasive diagnostic procedures like amniocentesis.
With that ease comes a downside: These tests, known as NIPTs, assess risk but are not as definitive as more traditional diagnostics. As a result, false positives do occur.
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Inc..
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Inc..
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Karen Dillon
I moved my wedding to attend a company offsite. It was a terrible decision, but a vital lesson on balance.
The Ultimate Home-Based Business
Thirty years since her breakout on Friends, Courteney Cox is taking on a new role-entrepreneur.
An Uphill Battle
Zwift has been through layoffs and a leadership change in 2024, but co-founder and CEO Eric Min says he's learned that building a startup, like cycling, is an endurance test.
The GLOW UP
How Glossier broke free from DTC, survived the skeptics, and finally achieved profitability.
The Snack That Gives Back
With a new partnership, SkinnyDipped is supporting women founders worldwide.
A New Path to SuCCESS
AllTrails may have achieved the impossible-an app that truly helps you get away from it all.
The Back-lash Survivors
Don't challenge Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz to a game of highs and lows. The Hello Alice co-founders will win-by a long shot.
The Spa Surge
Prime IV Hydration & Wellness has successfully weathered stormy waters.
Riding the Waves
With Beehiiv, Tyler Denk built a buzzy newsletter platform and a brash online persona. Both are lucrative.
Home Economics
How Chairish brought the circular economy to furniture.