PNOĒ to launch self-administered breath-testing mask for metabolic health
Massachusetts- and Greece-based startup PNOĒ will launch a new device on October 1 that lets users perform lab-grade metabolic breath tests without a trained operator. The mask measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide output to generate fitness and nutrition advice.
PNOĒ, a company based in Malden, Massachusetts, with operations in Athens, Greece, is preparing to launch its next-generation device, PNOĒ 2.0, on October 1. The key upgrade is that users will be able to administer the test themselves, without needing a trained operator present.
According to co-founder and CEO Apostolos Atsalakis, a user simply puts on the mask, presses a button, and sits for eight minutes while breathing normally. This simplicity could allow the device to be used in gyms without dedicated staff, and potentially even in pharmacies.
How the technology works
The mask, which covers the nose and mouth and straps around the head, analyzes gases in a person's breath to determine how efficiently their body produces energy. This method, known as metabolic testing, has existed for more than a century and has long been the gold standard for measuring VO₂ max — the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise, widely regarded as a key marker of cardiorespiratory fitness.
Such tests traditionally required bulky, expensive equipment found mainly in sports labs and hospitals. PNOĒ offers comparable accuracy in a portable device paired with software that turns results into practical recommendations. The test captures 23 biomarkers, including resting metabolic rate and metabolic flexibility — how well the body switches between burning fat and carbohydrates.
The new device is smaller and contains fewer parts than its predecessor, and its electronics detach from the silicone mask, allowing multiple users to share the costly hardware while each keeps their own personal mask.
Not a medical device
PNOĒ stresses that the device is not cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not positioned as a medical device, but rather as a wellness tool, comparable to a body-composition scale. The company hopes its growing data set could eventually help flag health issues, though it acknowledges that full diagnostic capability remains at least a couple of years away.
Founded a decade ago and employing 110 people, the company has raised about $22 million and sells exclusively to businesses — clients include Equinox, Four Seasons hotels, Red Bull, the NBA, and the Mount Sinai Health System. Roughly 85% of its business comes from the U.S. market.
