In a remarkable turnaround, Scott Hickle has shifted from a failed nurse-hiring software startup to launching an innovative venture in the health tech space. Hickle is the cofounder and CEO of Throne, an Austin-based company. His latest venture is behind an innovative new AI-powered toilet device that would help consumers improve their gut health. The Brooklyn-based startup has recently raised $4 million in a seed financing round led by Collaborative Fund. Katie Jacobs Stanton led the round, bringing in heavy-hitting investments from heroes such as Lance Armstrong and Tara Viswanathan.
Hickle’s path to Throne began in early 2023. He and his team then started a new startup which eventually was called Hickle and Blumberg. As you can see from their efforts, well-intentioned as they were, the venture didn’t take off. Hickle’s network in Austin paved the way for opportunities he never dreamed of. Business manager of pro cyclist Lance Armstrong, that is. This network generated an important introduction to Armstrong’s office—just in time for an actual pitch meeting with Armstrong himself.
The capital from Armstrong and other investors has been the wind at Throne’s back during the exciting early days of development. The company is currently building a pre-production prototype of its AI-powered toilet device. They hope to have it on the market by January of 2026. This innovative product aims to help users monitor their gut health, potentially predicting chronic conditions and even serious illnesses like cancer.
Hickle’s desire to create Throne comes from personal experiences and her family history. His father, a physician who also invented various medical devices, gave him a love for the field of healthcare innovation. Hickle expressed his vision succinctly:
“It’s better to be lucky than good, and we just get so dumb lucky. All the time.” – Scott Hickle
The recent funding round attracted an unusually diverse group of investors. Other prominent participants in the round include adventure capital firms Accomplice, Long Journey Ventures, V1.VC, Night Capital, Retron VC and Myelin Ventures. The involvement of all these angel investors adds great credibility to Throne’s mission. Interestingly, the supporters list includes Lance Armstrong, Tara Viswanathan, co-founder of Rupa Health, and Justin Mares, founder of TrueMed.
Now as Throne moves deeper into development, Hickle and his crew are laser-focused on making their green startup the best it can possibly be. The AI-powered toilet device it uses can quickly analyze 38 key health metrics. This additional research benefits consumers by providing unprecedented insight into their digestive health which allows for earlier interventions of chronic conditions.
The next launch in 2026 represents an exciting new chapter for Hickle and his crew. Like many start-ups, they are hopeful that their invention will improve public health in the long term. With healthcare, medtech, and biotech being one of the fastest-growing industries where technology and innovation intersect, Throne wants to be at the forefront of this new frontier.
