Would you pay S$3,200/month to use an oxygen cocoon? This S’porean startup thinks so.

We have seen our fair share of healthcare trends over the years, from probiotic drinks and superfood snacks to fitnessand wellness events.

Alongside these fads, a wave of healthtech startups has also emerged, leveraging modern solutions to address individual health needs. 

Among them is O2genes, a homegrown business that specialises in wellness technology solutions offering Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), a medical treatment where patients breathe higher concentrations of oxygen in a pressurised chamber.

“The ideal conditions to reset, repair and thrive”

One of the key products that O2genes offers is the Hyperbaric Oxygen Cocoons (pictured below), designed for you to sit or lie down comfortably while enjoying the benefits of HBOT.

Now, before you panic and think it resembles a gas chamber, Dr. Josh Lim, the founder of O2genes, assures that it is far less intimidating than it looks.

Inside one of O2genes’ oxygen cocoons, the body absorbs significantly more oxygen than it typically would. Dr. Lim explains that the human body is incredibly adaptive and responds to its environment—and in a high-oxygen, pressurised setting, this accelerates energy production, speeds up recovery, and reduces inflammation.

“It’s like giving your body the ideal conditions to reset, repair and thrive.”

To ensure maximum comfort, each cocoon also features full leather interiors, and some models are even equipped with built-in entertainment systems, allowing users to stream their favourite shows or sessions during treatment.

Launching was a “herculean task”

For Dr. Lim, ensuring one’s health goes beyond treating symptoms and must be taken from a holistic approach.

He first started researching adjuvant wellness technologies after losing his aunt to cancer, leading him to discover Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and go down the rabbit hole into making it more accessible to the masses.

“What started as research quickly became a mission to make this science-backed therapy more accessible, more transformative, and more widely understood for everybody,” he shared.  

That, however, took a lot of convincing during O2genes’ early days. Describing the company’s launch in 2017 as a “herculean task,” Dr. Lim said that most people either did not understand what its products actually did or dismissed them as just another wellness gimmick.

Hence, he and his team focused their efforts on educating their audience about the benefits of HBOT through blog posts and media features.

In a bid to make HBOT more accessible, Dr Lim also opened an oxygen cafe at Keong Saik Road—however, it has since closed due to headwinds faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it was a difficult decision, it also opened a door for O2genes to pivot its business model.

Instead of offering oxygen therapy in just one location, the company decided to create wellness packages for patients and healthcare businesses to grow their businesses. With that strategy, they were able to expand their product and service range.

Aside from its cocoons, the company offers oxygen canisters, which are designed for quick and convenient relief, especially for those dealing with breathlessness, jet lag, fatigue and asthma.

They also provide over-the-counter oxygen bars infused with aromatherapy, which Dr. Lim claims are “especially popular” in hotels, private clubs, VIP lounges and event spaces. These bars serve to refresh and restore energy levels.

Meanwhile, for athletes and gym-goers, the company builds Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) systems fto enhance their performance and recovery.

On the path to normalisation

However, with more people becoming more conscious with their spending on health and fitness, I was curious about how affordable it is to lease one of O2genes’ key products—namely, its oxygen cocoons.

Dr. Lim explained that, as every client’s needs vary, the company does not follow a one-size-fits-all pricing model and initially refrained from disclosing specific figures.

Eventually, though, he revealed that a cocoon is leased at S$3,200 each month—and according to him, people are willing to pay for it.

Since the company’s inception, Dr. Lim revealed that it has worked with people and organisations with diverse needs, from health junkies to healthcare professionals to hospitality spaces. He added that O2genes has partner clinics in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong, who offer their cocoons or products to their patients.

And with biohacking becoming more recognised in recent years (thanks to public figures like Bryan Johnson), O2genes has seen a surge in enquiries.

“That kind of visibility has helped open more conversations around proactive health and self-optimisation,” he said. “It’s been encouraging to see this growing interest.”

But the journey is far from over for the business. Dr. Lim and his team are currently working to make HBOT more accessible, particularly through its cocoons, both in the commercial and private sectors.

He also expressed his ambition to further improve its cocoons through continued research and education, as well as practical guidance on how and why oxygen therapy can benefit others with different needs.

Personally, it would take me a while before I willingly lease an oxygen cocoon for a month’s salary. That said, I can see how it could help others feel their best physically and mentally, and it might only be a matter of time before we start seeing these cocoons in public spaces.

Featured Image Credit: O2genes

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