Chrome Holding Co.

Formerly known as 23andMe Holding Co., Chrome Holding Co. stands as a Delaware-based biotechnology firm rooted in South San Francisco. The company launched in April 2006 through the vision of founders Anne Wojcicki, Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza to bring direct-to-consumer genetic testing into the mainstream. For nearly two decades, it operated as a market leader alongside giants like AncestryDNA, offering kits that decoded ancestry and health predispositions for millions of users.

A dramatic shift occurred in late 2024 when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Following this financial restructuring, the entity formally changed its name to Chrome Holding Co., while its operating subsidiary became ChromeCo, Inc. The assets were sold to TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit organization, for approximately $305 million. This transaction marked a stark departure from its previous valuation of over $6 billion and signaled a pivot away from profit-driven expansion toward a model focused on preserving the genetic database under nonprofit stewardship.

The brand's recent history is heavily defined by legal challenges regarding data security. In May 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the company for failing to protect user information during a massive 2023 breach that compromised the genetic data of roughly 6.9 million customers. These allegations led to an $18 million settlement with 42 states and a subsequent court-approved payout of $46.75 million for individual victims. Despite these controversies and the change in ownership, Anne Wojcicki continues to serve as CEO, guiding the company as it navigates its new operational reality. [edit]