When consumer genetics firm 23andMe announced Thursday that it will go public through a deal with the special purpose acquisition corporation VG Acquisition Corp, STAT hopped onto a Zoom call with two of the most prominent and colorful people in the business world: 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who has run the company from its start, and Richard Branson, the billionaire idea-man behind everything emblazoned with the word Virgin.
The conversation offered a window into why the pair thinks 23andMe is worth an eye-popping $3.5 billion. Zoom cameras stayed off, as all participants said they were not quite camera-ready, and, in fact, at least two were in pajamas.
The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.
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