The Everlywell story: from Shark Tank to now
With Everlywell, at-home lab testing has never been easier — but that hasn't always been the case. Whether you saw Everlywell on the TV series Shark Tank in 2017, or you recently followed us on Instagram, you may be curious about our origin story. We figured it was time to break down exactly how we got to this point. Want to learn more? Read on to find out what Everlywell is, how Everlywell testing kits work, and how our founder identified an important issue in healthcare that needed to be addressed.
Curious about the Everlywell test that could make a great partner in your health and wellness journey? Learn more about our easy and convenient 30+ at-home lab tests.
What is Everlywell?
Everlywell is a consumer health testing company that connects people with accessible, innovative, and insightful at-home lab tests. Founder and CEO Julia Cheek started the company in 2014 to solve a problem: a lack of access to easy, affordable, results-oriented lab testing in America.
Lab tests are used in over 70% of medical diagnoses, and over 14 billion lab tests are ordered in the U.S. every year, but millions of Americans avoid traditional lab testing due to high or unknown costs, lack of convenience, or a combination of both. People should be able to take control of your health and wellness when and how they need it most without worrying about cost, convenience, or confusing lab results.
At Everlywell, we believe everyone should have access to the lab results they want and need without inconvenient waiting rooms or surprise medical bills. That’s why we offer over 30 at-home lab tests, so you can get results your body can count on without leaving your home or breaking the bank. All Everlywell products are available in 49 states, excluding New York (this is due to complex billing laws and health testing regulations).
When was Everlywell on Shark Tank?
Everlywell founder and CEO Julia Cheek appeared on Shark Tank in November 2017 to acquire additional funding for the Austin-based startup. After Lori Greiner joined Everlywell as an investor on season 9 of Shark Tank, Everlywell was able to make incredible strides to grow the company. This growth included expanding to new retailers like Target and CVS, leading a major rebrand, and launching new mail-in lab tests like the Indoor & Outdoor Allergy Test.
Where is Everlywell now?
In March 2021, Everlywell acquired PWNHealth and Home Access Health Corporation and formed parent company Everly Health. With a user-first digital experience, easy-to-use, self-collected mail-in lab tests, and providing access to telehealth visits (including access to COVID-19 treatment) with a national clinician network working to improve early detection and prevention of disease, Everly Health is committed to transforming lives through high-quality diagnostic care.
Learn more about all our at-home lab tests.
How does an Everlywell test work?
Our at-home sample collection methods have been clinically validated against traditional methods to meet rigorous standards for test accuracy and reliability. We offer established collection methods, including blood, saliva, and urine samples, carefully and optimally designed so that quality lab testing can happen from home.
- Certified Clinical Laboratories
Each laboratory used to process your sample is CLIA-certified, which means they must meet or exceed federal precision, accuracy, and validity standards. They also obtain state licensure and submit themselves to regular inspections as well as independent third-party performance verifications.
- Physician-reviewed results
Everlywell works with an independent network of board-certified physicians to support your full testing experience. A physician will review your lab requisition, which is required for testing, and approve eligible orders. The same physician will also review your final test results when completed by the lab. For diagnostic tests such as our STI tests, a physician consultation and prescription is offered for positive results.
- Consumer protections
Under no circumstance do we ever sell our customers' data, and we use state-of-the-art, bank-grade encryption to ensure data security. Customer information is only shared with the labs and physicians that are part of our testing process. Everlywell's best-in-class, secure handling of personal health information earned the company “Highly Compliant” status per the HIPAA/HITECH Security Standards.
To learn more about the science behind Everlywell tests, visit our science page.
Who should take an Everlywell test?
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to take the majority of Everlywell tests. Want to learn more about how your body’s immune response to 96 different foods? You may be interested in our Food Sensitivity Test. Some tests, like our FIT Colon Cancer Screening Test for those ages 45 and up, are reserved for specific age groups. To learn more about age requirements for each test, we recommend visiting each product page directly.
From 2015 to now, Everlywell has been building a world where everyone can access affordable, insightful, and life-changing lab tests. We believe lab testing shouldn’t be hard to access–or hard to understand—so we empower people to take control of their health and wellness from the convenience and comfort of their own homes every single day.
Now that you know more about the Everlywell origin story, you’re probably ready to get shopping! The good news is that you can purchase an Everlywell at-home lab test in a variety of places. Shop directly on our homepage at everlywell.com or read more about where else you can purchase an Everlywell test (hint: your neighborhood CVS or Walgreens store, and even your favorite Target location).
Find your next health and wellness partner with over 30 at-home lab tests to choose from. What better time to take control of your health and wellness from the comfort and convenience of your own home than now?