Ultrahuman, a wearable tech company with products such as a habit-tracking ring, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an upcoming home health device, has secured $35 million in a Series B equity and debt funding round to fuel growth and support advanced research in the health monitoring space. 

Emerging technology is making it easier than ever for consumers to take proactive health measures as metabolic health takes center stage, especially with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearing the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM) this month.

Ultrahuman, which has expanded into over 150 retail outlets worldwide, says it’s on track to exceed $100 million in annualized revenue run rate by the end of the year — and things are just heating up.

The Bangalore, India-based wearable tech brand plans to expand UltraFactory, its manufacturing facility, to ramp up production of its health-supporting devices.

“Our ability to make long-term manufacturing investments, supported by our profitability, is unique in the smart rings market,” said Mohit Kumar, co-founder of Ultrahuman. He launched the company in 2020 alongside co-founder Vatsal Singhal after being inspired by seeing MMA athletes using data to train and recover.

The Series B round marks a pivotal step forward to dominate the smart rings space, Kumar said, adding that Ultrahuman has the goal of becoming the market leader, with the retail expansion having helped the tech brand reach new audiences.  

“Our vision of being the top player in terms of both active devices and geographic presence is within reach, thanks to our rapid expansion and the love we’ve received from our users,” Kumar continued.

The funding round included participation from VC firms Blume Ventures, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Alpha Wave and Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal.

Multi-Device Health

The wearable tech market may be crowded, but the centerpiece of Ultrahuman (and what sets it apart from competitors) is its multi-device health ecosystem — one in which the company says can create a “grand unified view of the human body” by gathering a large set of biomarkers on its integrated platform. It’s a differentiating factor that expands Ultrahuman past the pure smart ring space.

“The future of health is integrated, and at Ultrahuman, we’re making that future a reality today by seamlessly combining various health data streams to empower preventative health and wellness,” Kumar said.

However, smart rings have proven to still be a hot device. Last month, Samsung entered the wearable ring space with its Galaxy Ring to compete with market leader Oura, which itself is signaling the same move as Ultrahuman and deepening its push into the health-tech space.  

A crowded space, indeed — and that’s before Apple has even taken a shot at the wearable ring space. Industry experts have anticipated the tech giant joining Oura and Samsung, especially when considering Apple’s patent filings. 

Ultrahuman appears to be going beyond wearables, having announced Blood Vision, a blood test that correlates sleep changes, resting heart rate, HRV and movement trends with markers in the blood.

The company provides an example of how it would work, where the system can ascertain how an improvement such as sleep quality may influence an LDL marker — the goal being for users to fully see the connection between their lifestyle habits and their blood markers. Over time, users can track the progression of certain health markers, receiving a true “behind the curtain” look at their health.

Next Up: Healthy Homes

As the at-home environment is predicted to become the epicenter of the wellness real estate market and its projected expansion to $887.5 billion by 2027, Ultrahuman’s upcoming ‘Home’ device perfectly aligns with Global Wellness Summit’s top forecasted trend for 2024.

The silent, low-profile device will soon be available for pre-order and promises to optimize living spaces by monitoring daily markers that impact health — everything from exposure to artificial light, air quality, humidity and noise levels.

Users can also gain insights into snoring and sleep quality and optimize their sleep environment by analyzing external temperature. An airplane mode allows users to shut off wifi and Bluetooth, while a smoke sensor can alert users of a fire.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System, the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM), as awareness of metabolic health continues to gain steam. 

The system will become available to purchase online without a prescription this summer. 

The wearable Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is designed for those 18 years and older who don’t use insulin and either treat diabetes with oral medications or don’t have a diabetes diagnosis but are interested in seeing firsthand how diet and exercise impact their blood sugar levels.

Using a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm, Stelo continuously measures, records, analyzes and displays glucose values every 15 minutes when connected to an app. Users can wear each sensor for up to 15 days before replacement.

Stelo isn’t designed for those with “problematic hypoglycemia” since it won’t provide the necessary alerts. 

Although Dexcom notes that Stelo users shouldn’t take medical action based on the device’s findings without consulting with a healthcare professional, the health tech company says the glucose biosensor system can help users understand how modifications such as diet and exercise can impact glucose excursion. 

Considering that approximately one in three American adults have prediabetes — a staggering 80% of whom don’t know they have it —  Stelo can serve as an invaluable tool, underscored by its ease of accessibility. It’s a stance that appears to be shared by the FDA.

“CGMs can be a powerful tool to help monitor blood glucose,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Today’s clearance expands access to these devices by allowing individuals to purchase a CGM without the involvement of a healthcare provider.

“Giving more individuals valuable information about their health, regardless of their access to a doctor or health insurance, is an important step forward in advancing health equity for U.S. patients,” Shuren continued.

While a price hasn’t been mentioned yet, one William Blair analyst estimates Stelo may cost around $90 a month and that consumers could use their healthcare savings accounts to offset the expense.

Consumers Embrace Wearables for Health

By all accounts, consumers are entering a new era of health and wellness. The pandemic may have inspired health and wellness, but it also led to skyrocketing sales of pulse oximeters, perhaps a testament to how much consumers have come to rely on monitoring devices beyond fitness and activity trackers.

Instead of simple trackers, companies such as Whoop bill their technology as ‘human performance,’ leaning into AI and providing biometric data points across sleep, recovery, stress and strain.

Smart ring maker Oura is also invested in the glucose realm, having partnered with CGM platforms Veri, Supersapiens and January AI to offer insights into sleep and glucose biomarkers.

One wearable tech startup, Signos, raised $20 million last year as it looks to disrupt the medicated weight loss and metabolic space by using Dexcom CGMs to provide real-time diet and workout recommendations based on the readings with its app.  

The CGM Market Heats Up

Although Stelo may be the first CGM cleared for over-the-counter purchase, the CGM space is expected to become increasingly competitive. Abbott’s first consumer biowearable, Lingo, is currently being rolled out across the U.K. with ambitions of receiving a green light for the U.S. market. Similar to Stelo, it tracks glucose levels and provides personalized insights in response.

“Our mood, weight, energy levels and ability to focus are all connected to our individual glucose levels, which rise and fall in response to the food we eat, hours of sleep, regular exercise, and even life’s daily stresses,” said Lily Soutter, a nutritionist in Abbott’s Lingo division. “Improving your metabolic health by tracking your glucose levels over a meaningful period of time can motivate you to implement changes to better manage those spikes and dips, ultimately benefiting your health and well-being.”

Meanwhile, companies like Roche are forging a new frontier in diabetes management and the CGM space using predictive AI for its Accu-Chek SmartGuide device. Using a CGM sensor, Roche’s system displays current glucose levels, predictions for the following two hours and provides a risk prediction for nocturnal hypoglycemia.

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Newer and more advanced technology such as fitness wearables, artificial intelligence software and robotics is reducing employee well-being, according to a new briefing paper from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW).

The preliminary research may be a wake-up call to the countless businesses that have embraced artificial intelligence and automation technology to reduce labor costs and advance their bottom line; it could also have ramifications for the makers of fitness wearables like watches, rings and bands.

Using data from an online survey of over 6,000 workers in the United Kingdom, IFOW discovered that while digital information and communication technologies correlated with improved quality of life, extensive exposure to newer technologies can be detrimental to well-being.

One key survey finding is that frequent engagement with AI software, robotics and wearables (defined as fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses, GPS devices and other data-gathering sensors) “exhibited a negative relationship with quality of life,” with even moderate exposure to robotics revealing an adverse effect on quality of life.

Start of the Conversation

IFOW’s findings highlight an important area that has yet to be fully explored in the current tech-forward age, but ultimately the paper encourages employers to understand the need to roll out technology that actively engages workers and to conduct “rigorous monitoring of risks and impacts.”

“The findings of this working paper – coupled with the current rapid pace of adoption of workplace automation technologies – emphasize that this work should be a priority if this technological transformation is to deliver a future where innovation and well-being advance together,” the authors wrote.

As the paper’s authors also point out, all hope is not lost in an overly connected world that will continue to lean toward tech. Instead, the findings “underscore the importance of a proactive, human-centered approach to technology deployment, emphasizing the value of worker consultation and participation rights, clarification of purposes and balanced consideration of technological benefits and risks.”

The authors also state that the need for additional research is evident, especially when understanding the different impacts of technology by sector and its overall impact on the intersection of well-being with productivity and worker retention. 

A Case for Corporate Wellness Platforms

In addition to prompting the start of a meaningful conversation, the survey’s findings are interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the rise of corporate wellness programs. 

Not everyone is sold on such employer-focused programs, as one Oxford researcher recently illustrated in a controversial take, but IFOW’s initial results on the topic are likely good news for platforms that are encouraging employers to invest in well-being programs for their staff. 

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has soared to a $2.4 billion valuation and continues to add to its robust line-up of wellness offerings, recently expanding its sleep category this month with snooze-supporting apps Rise Science and SleepScore. According to Gympass research, 98% of employees worldwide report sleep is crucial for their well-being, and 60% say work stress negatively impacts their sleep.

Global healthy eating platform Lifesum, tapped to support staff employed by tech titans Amazon and PayPal, recently revealed an eye-opening statistic: that nearly 71% of stressed-out Gen Z and Millennials would quit their jobs tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being and that almost 70% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. 

The post Fitness Wearables, AI Linked to Reduced Employee Wellness appeared first on Athletech News.

StimScience, the neuroscience-based sleep company, has appointed Tim Rosa, a former Fitbit executive, as its new CEO.

Rosa’s appointment marks a step forward for the company’s flagship product line, Somnee, a personalized, smart sleep headband that employs non-invasive, closed-loop neurostimulation to enhance sleep quality and duration.

“With StimScience, the team has pioneered and delivered lab-grade technology in a sleep headband that accurately maps and measures brainwave patterns and applies personalized tES neurostimulation that nudges the brain to sleep,” Rosa said.

With a proven track record in launching world-class brands and products, Rosa is aiming to guide StimScience through its next phase of growth and innovation. As the former chief marketing officer of Fitbit, he scaled the company from a small startup into a household name, with over 140 million devices sold in 100-plus countries. 

“There’s a lot of exciting clinical research and momentum validating the importance of sleep fitness and its impact on cognitive performance, athletic performance, mental health, general health, and even weight loss,” Rosa said. “Wearables have done a great job educating consumers on their general sleep stage trends and insights. The challenge for most consumer-grade devices has been creating a closed-loop, lab-grade diagnostic in combination with a personalized therapeutic that adapts with the user and ultimately improves sleep onset, duration, and/or depth.”

Rosa added that he’s “excited to partner with wearables, sleep products and services, and healthcare to close that loop and improve outcomes for 100 million consumers.”

The Future of Sleep Science?

As the first company to approach sleep improvement through personalized closed-loop neurostimulation, StimScience claims its device is proven to cut the time it takes to fall asleep in half and improve sleep quality with only 15 minutes of use. It also claims Somnee is four times as effective as a melatonin pill, twice as effective as cognitive behavior therapy, and one-and-a-half as effective as Ambien in improving sleep efficiency and duration. Somnee markets itself as the “future of sleep.”

Rosa’s recruitment was backed by Dr. Matthew Walker, PhD, the author of New York Times bestseller “Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams,” and chief sleep advisor at Somnee.

“Sleep is increasingly recognized as one of the most fundamental habits not only for our day-to-day functioning, concentration, mood, and body health, but also for continued brain and body wellness as we age,” Walker noted.

Venture capital firm Khosla Ventures also supports StimScience.

“We backed Somnee because the team had every component needed to bring forward clinical-grade consumer technology to change the face of sleep. Since our initial investment, this thesis is proving itself out,” said Vinod Khosla, a tech investor and founder of Khosla Ventures. “With Tim at the helm, Somnee can now scale to bridge a foundational health gap and cement itself as an iconic brand that carries weight with consumers, the medical and sleep health communities.” 

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Samsung officially introduced the Galaxy Ring, its latest innovation in wearables, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The new device marks the South Korean tech giant’s first venture into the smart ring category and the emergence of a key competitor for market leaders like Oura.

The Galaxy Ring comes equipped with a variety of sensors designed to monitor key health metrics such as heart rate, sleep patterns, respiratory rate and the time it takes for a user to fall asleep. The information will populate what Samsung calls “MyVitality Score,” which offers personalized health insights based on these different metrics. 

Despite the arrival of a new competitor, Oura CEO Tom Hale called Samsung’s entry into the smart ring space a positive for the industry as a whole.

“New players entering the space is validation for the category and drives us to aim higher to serve our members and community,” Hale told TechCrunch.

Although Samsung has smartphones and smartwatches, the Galaxy Ring caters to different consumer needs, noted Hon Pak, head of the digital health team at Samsung Electronics.

“Our own customers told us, I want choice. I want the ability to have other forms of wearables to measure health,” Pak told CNBC. “And some want to wear the watch, some want to wear the watch and the ring and get benefit from both. Some just want more simplicity.”

The Galaxy Ring is designed to work seamlessly with Samsung’s smartwatches, providing users with a comprehensive overview of their health when used in tandem. One of the most anticipated features of the ring is its ability to monitor noninvasive glucose levels and blood pressure, a significant advancement in health technology. Samsung is also researching how best to use artificial intelligence to give deeper insights into a person’s health. 

“Imagine (a) large language model, acting as my digital assistant, while looking at the context of my medical records, my physiological data, my engagement with a mobile device, the wearables during all of that … begins to bring greater insights and personalization opportunities,” Pak said. “A digital assistant coach is (…) absolutely needed.” 

The smart ring market could grow to $1 billion or more by the 2030s, according to industry estimates. Samsung’s entrance into the space seems to be a validation of the market’s growth potential.

Oura, the category’s leader by far, has around 100 granted patents, with almost 30 pending patents, which could suggest potential intellectual property disputes down the line between major players.

In addition to brands like Movano (Evie Ring) and RingConn looking to capture market share by offering differentiating features like a focus on women’s health and no subscription fees, there are rumors that Apple could look to enter the space with a smart ring of its own.

The post Samsung Unveils Galaxy Ring. Can the Tech Giant Challenge Oura? appeared first on Athletech News.

Researchers from the University of Washington have introduced the thermal earring, a piece of smart tech they say could redefine how we monitor our health.

The device continuously monitors earlobe temperature to provide more insights into users’ health in a fashionable and discreet manner. Co-lead authors Yujia (Nancy) Liu and Qiuyue (Shirley) Xue conducted the research. 

Like the smart ring, the thermal earring combines fashion and functionality. Similar to a paperclip in size and weight, it includes a magnetic clip that attaches one temperature sensor to the earlobe and another that dangles below to gauge room temperature. It can also be customized with designs made of resin, like flowers and gemstones, without compromising its accuracy. It has a twenty-eight-day battery life, which is far longer than many competitors. 

The research team focused their work on the limitations of current wearables and proposed earrings as a stylish and comfortable alternative. Earlobes, Xue discovered, provide a more consistent temperature reading compared to hands or wrists. In small proof-of-concept tests, the earrings were less variable compared to comparable smartwatches. 

“I wear a smartwatch to track my personal health, but I’ve found that a lot of people think smartwatches are unfashionable or bulky and uncomfortable,” Xue told the University of Washington. “I also like to wear earrings, so we started thinking about what unique things we can get from the earlobe. We found that sensing the skin temperature on the lobe, instead of a hand or wrist, was much more accurate.”

The thermal earring can detect changes related to stress, eating, exercise and even ovulation. Xue and her team of researchers are looking into expanding the earring’s capabilities to include heart rate and activity monitoring and possible sustainable power sources. The device is not yet commercially available but could disrupt the jewelry wearable space. 

The wearables space has been hot lately, with Oura, Apple and Whoop all making waves and Samsung poised to enter the market with its Galaxy Ring, reportedly set for release this summer.

Brands like Oura, Apple and Whoop continue to evolve the technology behind their products, with new and improved features like Whoop Coach and Apple’s new mental health offerings. Temperature monitoring has become more popular than ever, with some wearables like the Oura Ring using it for natural birth control methods and cycle tracking. 

The post Could Smart Earrings Shake Up the Wearables Space? Researchers Think So appeared first on Athletech News.

As Apple continues to push into the health and wellness space, new intellectual property filings and reports speculate that the tech giant might be moving into the hydration-tracking and smart ring markets.

The hydration-tracking feature could continue to improve on the already-beloved Apple Watch, and the smart ring could disrupt that growing space currently dominated by Oura.

Apple recently filed a patent for a “wearable device with perspiration measuring capabilities” for its Apple Watches. The solution would be non-invasive and could measure perspiration, skin temperature and more to help consumers optimize hydration.

If successfully implemented, the innovation could also displace offerings that focus solely on hydration measurement, like Nix and Flowbio, which work through skin patches. Apple is also reportedly developing a noninvasive glucose-monitoring solution, reformulating its problematic SpO2 sensor, and working on a much-anticipated AI health coach. 

Is an Apple Ring in the Works?

At least one industry insider also claims that Apple is working on a smart ring offering. Samsung recently teased its Galaxy Ring at its Unpacked event in January, and Apple could be following suit.

The California tech company has filed several patents over the years that hint at their smart ring’s advanced development stages. The intellectual property suggests that Apple’s ring could have features like biosensors and the ability to control the Apple Vision Pro headset. A patent in 2015 shows the device as having an accelerometer and gyroscope.

The potential introduction of the Apple Ring aligns with growing interest in the smart ring sector, which is expected to reach $200 million by 2031.

However, many of Apple’s patents are several years to a decade old, demonstrating that the company’s explorations of the smart ring space might not come to fruition. Skepticism also remains due to a lack of credible information about the leak generally associated with imminent Apple product launches. 

Despite the tentative and speculative nature of some of the tech company’s plans, one thing is certain: Apple remains committed to health and wellness innovation and has plans in the works to continue improving on its wearables. 

The post Apple Secures Hydration Patent, Smart Ring Rumors Heat Up appeared first on Athletech News.

In a shift from pandemic-era outcomes, the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) 2024 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends indicates a move back to in-person fitness experiences while continuing to emphasize the role of technology in the fitness industry. The annual survey highlights evolving consumer needs and the sector’s adaptive responses.

Initiated in 2006, the ACSM’s annual survey has historically been a reliable predictor of fitness industry trends, reflecting shifts in societal attitudes and technological advancements. The 2024 version collated insights from nearly 2,000 professionals across the fitness industry, including personal trainers, exercise physiologists and group exercise instructors

The 2024 survey showcases an array of upcoming trends, with a notable emphasis on boutique fitness studios and subscription-based memberships. This signals a departure from the previous focus on online training and home gyms, which gained prominence during the pandemic. 

Here are some other trends highlighted in the report:

Wearables Continue To Lead

Wearable technology leads as the top trend, signifying a strong consumer interest in personal health data and fitness tracking. Wearable technology has ranked in the top three since 2016, highlighting the growing popularity of devices that track health metrics like heart rate, calories burned, and sleep. 

“We know that social support is one of the strongest predictors of exercise self-efficacy,”  said A’Naja Newsome, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP and survey spokesperson. “It is important for exercise professionals to leverage the capabilities of wearable technology to improve adherence and autonomy for clients.”

Corporate Wellness Is Top of Mind

Coming in second is a newcomer to the top ten list – worksite health promotion. Companies are increasingly investing in health-promoting initiatives, such as providing access to fitness facilities, organizing employee wellness programs and offering health education workshops. By integrating these health-focused strategies into the workplace, employers are acknowledging the profound impact that a healthy workforce has on the success and sustainability of their organizations. 

Grace De Simone, wellness director, Wyckoff Family YMCA, Wyckoff, New Jersey, has over 20 years of experience in the corporate wellness sector. She says that people returning to the office post-COVID may be driving this heightened attention on workplace wellness. 

“People are more anxious and cautious than ever,” says De Simone. “Employers are providing wellness education and programs, including coaching, mental health awareness and training, meditation, yoga, and physical activity. Full-time employees spend a third of their day at work, whether it’s at home or in the office. The opportunity for preventive and impactful services for their health is an enormous and important initiative.”

Older Generations Embrace Fitness

The third spot belongs to fitness programs tailored for older adults. As more Baby Boomers enter retirement, this group is focusing more on staying active and independent. The 65-plus population increased 38% from 2010-2021 and is projected to keep rising over the next two decades. Regular exercise enables older adults to maintain health and independence as they age.

Debbie Bellenger, owner, DB Fitness and Wellness Solutions, Campobello, South Carolina, says it’s crucial for fitness professionals to acquire specific training and development around working with older adults. 

“We need to closely follow longevity research and understand that this demographic expects more than just physical health – their whole well-being is key,” says Bellenger.

“Learning about common age-related health conditions, fall prevention, balance and mobility issues allows us to develop appropriate programs,” she adds. We should use age-appropriate cues, music and relatable communication styles. Pre and post assessments help monitor client progress.”

Bellenger advised that, looking forward, the industry needs to grasp concepts like recovery timeframes to avoid overtraining older adults. 

“With rising neurodegenerative diseases, we have to recognize symptoms and customize plans accordingly,” she says. “Loneliness is another huge factor, so facilitating social connections within groups can directly impact wellness. We need the tools to support older adults in finding purpose post-retirement.”

More Top Trends

Other trends in the top ten indicate a focus on using tech and customized programming to improve mental and physical wellbeing. Mobile apps, exercise for mental health, and personal training all made the list. There is also a push for policy changes to increase access and affordability of qualified exercise professionals.  

De Simone, who is also a mental health first aid instructor serving the corporate wellness population, pointed out that in the first year of the pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Just two weeks ago, the WHO declared loneliness a global health threat. De Simone encourages fitness professionals to get a Mental Health First Aid credential to help meet clients’ needs. 

“The hope is that this combined publication, and the addition of trend categories, will allow (people) to understand trends predicted to drive the health and fitness industry here in the U.S. and abroad,” said Newsome.

View the full 2024 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends report here.

The post Wearable Tech, In-Person Fitness Continue To Rise in 2024 appeared first on Athletech News.

Oura has long been synonymous with “smart ring.” For years, entering the space proved difficult for many potential competitors due to the technological challenges of creating small and stylish enough hardware components for heart rate and blood oxygen tracking. However, several smart rings that have been in the works for years have finally hit the market or will be released soon.

Take Movano Health’s Evie Ring. The product was first showcased at CES 2022 and is a female-first wearable. Evie comes with a simplified app that tracks heart rate, activity, menstrual cycles and blood oxygen. It also allows for mood and menstrual symptom tracking to identify patterns over time, and has a small gap in the ring that is forgiving with finger swelling.

Smart Ring Competitors

Other smart rings were also featured at CES 2024. The Amazfit Helio Ring is a ring geared towards elite athletes that focuses on recovery. It has full integration with GPS sports watches, so users’ comprehensive health data is available in the Zepp app. The ring is expected to be released in the next few months, with pricing not yet available, although many believe it will be priced at around $350, similar to competitors.

RingConn, also displayed at CES, is more affordably priced at $279. It conducts sleep quality analysis and all-day heart rate and blood oxygen saturation monitoring. Like Oura, it offers stress index monitoring. 

Other smart rings offer more niche features. YogiFi offers a Mat + Ring that tracks yoga asanas, mindfulness minutes and breathing patterns to elevate users’ practices. Ultrahuman Ring Air is smaller and lighter than competitors and has advanced recommendations. For example, it can observe energy levels and circadian cycle to recommend specific times to consume coffee. 

Samsung Readies Galaxy Ring

Large players are also eyeing the market. Samsung has been teasing its Galaxy Ring, which will reportedly launch later this year. In addition to standard health and fitness tracking, Samsung might use the Galaxy Ring to control connected devices like smart TVs.

A newly filed patent by Samsung shows that a pair of XR glasses could use a smart ring to get positional information for users’ fingers and hands. The Galaxy Ring will reportedly be available in sizes up to 13 and in three different finishes. 

What To Watch in 2024

Many wearables have implemented subscription fees, such as Oura and Whoop. Some newer players, like Evie and RingConn, are hoping to capture market share with no fee, a feature that could appeal to many consumers. For the Helio Ring, users must subscribe to the service for $69.99 per year to access the company’s AI chatbot for health-related questions. 

The smart ring market size could surpass $1 billion by the 2030s. As more brands express interest in the space, will they be able to compete with Oura? Even larger players like Samsung may face an uphill battle to bring new consumers to the smart ring space and convert Oura users to their products. However, as the space grows, 2024 could be the year of the smart ring.  

The post Oura, Samsung & More: The Smart Ring Era Is Here appeared first on Athletech News.

Dorothy Kilroy, chief commercial officer at Oura, joins the show in Athletech News’ latest installment of the “Unscripted” podcast. While Kilroy started at Oura less than a year ago, she’s a long-tenured consumer, having worn the company’s wearable smart ring for almost five years now. 

Alongside “Unscripted” co-hosts Edward Hertzman, Athletech’s founder and CEO, and Eric Malzone, Kilroy discusses the ultra-popular Oura Ring and what’s next for Oura while also breaking down what she’s seen of the wearable industry as a whole. How wearables can assist, but not replace, medical professionals is also discussed during the podcast, along with how Oura caters to other key demographics. 

Watch this episode of “Unscripted” for unfiltered takes on the following:

• How Oura separates itself from the wearables pack
• Relationships with key demographics including females, active users and medial communities
• Futures for Oura and the wearable industry as a whole

Key Talking Points:

Introductions: (0:00 – 2:11)

Oura vs other wearables (2:11 – 4:49)

What the Oura Ring offers (4:49 – 6:24)

Responding to consumers (6:24 – 8:00)

Oura and women’s health (8:00 – 10:19)

Oura’s business model (10:19 – 13:10)

Relationship with medicine (13:10 – 16:58)

Future of wearables (16:58 – 19:49)

Accessibility and demand (19:49 – 22:04)

Artificial intelligence usage (22:04 – 24:41)

Fashion element (24:41 – 28:22)

Wrap-up/methods of contact (28:22 – 29:51)

The post Watch Now: Oura’s Dorothy Kilroy Joins ATN ‘Unscripted’ Podcast appeared first on Athletech News.

SoulCycle, the indoor cycling studio with a cult-like following, has partnered with Fitbit to offer promotions to riders throughout January and early February in a campaign dubbed “Fitbit and Friends.”

The week of January 22-28, SoulCycle riders can receive two free classes, one for themselves and one for a friend, by wearing a Fitbit device or Pixel Watch to their local studio. The week of January 29 to February 4, those classes can be redeemed at the themed “Soul Surprise presented by Fitbit” classes at all 58 SoulCycle studios in the U.S. By participating in the classes, riders can win a Fitbit Charge 6 device. 

The partnership demonstrates the increasing intersection of in-person workouts and fitness wearables. Long associated with individual workouts, wearables are increasingly being used for group fitness. There remains untapped partnership potential, however, such as bespoke workouts for branded classes on popular wearables.

The promotion comes at a tumultuous time for Fitbit owner Google, whose parent Alphabet recently laid off hundreds of workers as part of cost-cutting measures. Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman are leaving as part of the reorganization.

Fitbit’s popularity has been declining in recent years as its mid-range price has failed to lure in enough customers, who are increasingly turning to luxury wearables like the Apple Watch and Whoop. Now that Google owns Fitbit, many believe the tech giant’s removing of features, such as Fitbit Challenges and Groups, are steps towards the product’s eventual discontinuation. However, the SoulCycle tie-up is one of the largest recent partnerships for Fitbit, demonstrating that Google may still have big plans for the health and fitness wearable.

The Equinox-owned SoulCycle, meanwhile, has also faced financial difficulties in recent years, largely due to post-pandemic changes in consumer fitness preferences. In 2022, SoulCycle shuttered around 20 of its studios. The cycling company has looked to leverage partnerships to reach new audiences. For example, in late 2022, SoulCycle partnered with ClassPass to make its cycling classes available on the booking platform. 

The post SoulCycle, Fitbit Partner To Offer Free Classes, Wearables appeared first on Athletech News.

Fitness and wellness are growing priorities for many. According to Lululemon’s 2023 Global Wellbeing Report, 67% of people place wellbeing as a top priority, but only 12% say their wellbeing is where it should be. Looking back at 2023 and toward 2024, how will consumers try to narrow the gap between their fitness goals and their current reality?

Consumers’ affinity for connected fitness remains an open question, although virtual reality seems to have carved out a niche for those who desire gamified workouts. Wearables continue to advance, but are they innovating too fast? Strength is seemingly here to stay, with Pilates and functional training more popular than ever. And how will the rise of weight loss drugs impact the traditional fitness industry? While the future of fitness and wellness is uncertain, one thing is for sure: the industry is unlikely to show any signs of slowing down in 2024.    

To get you ready for a new year, Athletech News previews the top fitness and wellness trends to watch in 2024:

• 

  Can Connected Fitness Rebound?

  Connected fitness has been slow to recover from the post-pandemic surge in popularity of in-person workouts. Lululemon stopped selling Mirror, its connected fitness unit, at the end of 2023. It even struck a five-year deal with Peloton to provide fitness content for Lululemon Studio, which is replacing Mirror, as well as create co-branded apparel. The two companies also hosted a series of in-person events, demonstrating a collaboration between the one-time competitors. Earnings showed that Lululemon’s previous $500 million acquisition of Mirror was nearly worthless. Mirror’s downfall might be reflective of the current state of connected fitness. 

  Peloton, meanwhile, continues to cite hope for a turnaround. It recently rebranded to a more content-focused model, and offered extensive holiday deals in November to drive sales, including up to $700 off of Peloton purchases. The company is facing difficulties converting free app users into paying subscribers, which has led to wider-than-expected losses. Peloton is hoping to boost revenue with high-profile partnerships and the relaunch of Tread+, but the company has cited concerns that inflation-weary consumers will hesitate to invest in its expensive hardware.

  Connected fitness companies that focused on premium hardware as opposed to virtual programming have also been struggling, such as Tonal and Hydrow, each of which began 2023 with layoffs. Even Clmbr, the LeBron James and Jay-Z-backed vertical climber maker, laid off around 25% of its staff earlier this year before being acquired by Forme.

• 

  Will In-Person Fitness Continue To Grow?

  While connected fitness struggles, in-person is back and better than ever. IHRSA’s 2023 Global Report cited a resurgence of consumers connecting and engaging during in-person workouts. Today, boutique fitness accounts for 42% of all gym memberships. The report also cited high-value, low-price and luxury fitness facilities gaining the most over 2023.

  Planet Fitness continues to win big with Gen Z: Morning Consult named the brand on a list of top ten leading companies that young consumers are eyeing. The fitness franchise has an active presence on social media platforms, and its “Classic Membership” is just $10 a month, a price that hasn’t been raised in 30 years, although the brand is considering a slight increase. Crunch Fitness is also expanding rapidly. The New York-based franchise brand currently has over two million members and operates over 450 gyms worldwide. CR Fitness, the top Crunch Franchisee, plans to build 15-20 fitness clubs per year, growth that has led to over 1,000 employment opportunities. 

• 

  What’s Next for Weight Loss Drugs?

  GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have also taken the fitness and wellness world by storm this year. Barclays has estimated that the industry could be worth $100 billion by 2030 and perhaps even $200 billion within the next ten years. WeightWatchers notably pivoted from its points system and weight-loss meetings to offering access to weight loss and diabetes drugs. Food companies have noticed declining sales and have scrambled to shift their strategic focus. Nestlé has created new vitamin and mineral-packed products for those on appetite suppressants. 

  The fitness industry has been eager to welcome GLP-1 users: Life Time launched the Miora Longevity and Performance clinic at its flagship Target Center health club in downtown Minneapolis. The clinic offers doctors, physician assistants, nurses and personal trainers in addition to weight loss drugs and non-invasive therapies like red light therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and infrared saunas. Xponential Fitness has also leaned into the weight loss medication sector, acquiring Lindora, a metabolic health clinic.

• 

  Will Strength Training Continue To Surge?

  According to MindBody’s 2024 fitness trend report, the top three workouts of 2023 were Pilates, yoga, and strength training. Strength training in particular is growing in popularity with Gen Z. Les Mills partnered with Adidas earlier this year on a strength-focused workout to target younger consumers. The launch of Nike Strength, a collection of strength training equipment for elite and everyday athletes, also demonstrates the growth of the category. Pure Barre launched Define, a low-impact fitness class that incorporates heavier weights than those used by most boutique fitness brands. CorePower Yoga’s most recent class addition was Strength X, a high-intensity strength training class that incorporates traditional yoga poses with targeted resistance exercises. Orangetheory Fitness, known for its cardio workouts, has also gotten into the strength training craze.

  At 2023’s IHRSA Convention in San Diego, Fabrizio Cecchinelli, format manager at Technogym, cited two main reasons for strength training’s surge in popularity: social media and science. Strength training’s photogenic nature makes for aesthetically pleasing posts. The science behind strength training has also propelled workouts, as a search on PubMed, the National Institute of Health’s database of biotechnology information, revealed that in the last decade, the number of searches for scientific information related to the benefits of strength training increased almost fourfold.

• 

  Can Fitness Wearables Bridge the Healthcare Gap?

  Wearables continued to evolve in 2023 as consumers using the devices for reaching various fitness goals are increasingly using wearables to generally monitor their health. New hardware, software, and apps have allowed turned wearables into customizable health clinics. Heart rate monitors are standard on many wearables, and some even have FDA approval for detecting abnormalities like atrial fibrillation. Whoop offers a feature called Health Monitor which provides a daily update on all user metrics. Members can send this report as a PDF directly to a doctor or medical professional. Devices have also gotten more social. Oura launched Circles earlier this year, where members can share high-level data like “Readiness,” “Sleep,” and “Activity” scores with friends and family members. Apple Watch also allows users to share their activity with family, friends or coaches.

  Strength training has also become more prominent in the wearables market. Whoop became the first fitness wearable to measure strength earlier this year. It now allows users to measure strain during strength workouts by tracking weights, reps and sets for a personalized view of their training. Oura also launched a co-branded Rest & Recovery kit with Equinox that featured a specially designed ring cover for weight training and strenuous workouts. The innovation addressed users’ concerns about the Oura ring being less compatible with barbell training. 

• 

  Will VR Fitness Take Off?

  While connected fitness has waned, virtual reality (VR) fitness is a fairly nascent field, but one that’s becoming more prominent in the industry. Les Mills is investing in the space, with its recent launch of XR Dance and Bodycombat. Xponential Fitness has created Xponential+, a new virtual and mixed-reality app for Meta Quest 3 that allows users to essentially take boutique fitness classes in their living room.

  On the athleisure front. Alo Yoga teamed up with Obsess, the experiential e-commerce platform, to launch an immersive virtual reality shopping experience. But it hasn’t been all fun and games—Meta was sued earlier this fall by Andre Elijah Immersive Inc (AEI), a self-proclaimed new entrant to the VR fitness space which alleged that it developed a fitness yoga app with Meta and Alo before the relationship soured. Most of the lawsuit alleges that Meta has a vertical monopoly on the VR fitness space, and colluded with Alo to keep AEI out of the market. Despite some setbacks, Meta is still leaning into the health and fitness space, believing in the power of virtual reality to make workouts fun and engaging. 

The post The Fitness & Wellness Trends To Watch in 2024 appeared first on Athletech News.

It’s been a big year for Apple on the fitness and wellness front, and the tech giant seems poised for even bigger things in 2024.

Earlier this month, Apple released watchOS 10.2, iOS 17.2, and iPadOS 17.2 updates which allow for seamless access and logging of Health data using Siri. Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad users can ask Siri questions like “How does my Move ring look today?” or “What was my blood pressure yesterday?” Users can also ask Siri to log health-related items. For example, users can say, “Log that I took my medications,” or “My period started today.” 

The company also recently launched Apple Watch Ultra 2, which has the brightest display yet and a new watch face that shows dynamic information like altitude, depth or seconds along its outermost edges. Apple also released a new iPhone app called Journal. With the app, users can capture and write about everyday moments and special events in their lives using photos, videos, audio recordings and location. Journal’s machine learning provides personalized, private suggestions to inspire journal entries.

Major Fitness Moves

Apple Fitness+, meanwhile, continues to offer more classes (with 12 different types and over 5,000 workouts and meditations) along with its Artist Spotlight series featuring music by Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, and Bad Bunny. 

Apple also partnered with Anytime Fitness, its first deal with a gym or health club, demonstrating in-person and digital companies coming together to offer more omnichannel experiences. The tech giant is also reportedly planning robust updates to its AirPods line that could include improved hearing health features and body-temperature tracking. It also unveiled its Vision Pro headset; many anticipate Apple could use its new mixed-reality headset to enhance Fitness+ and the Apple Watch. 

Social Features Promote Health & Wellness

With 2024 weeks away, Apple is ready to help users reach their health and wellness goals, from mindfulness to running speed to hiking.

Activity Sharing is a feature that can help users stick to their resolutions by sharing daily accomplishments with family, friends or even trainers. Users can even challenge each other to a seven-day Activity Competition based on Activity Rings. Trends show daily data for active calories, exercise minutes, stand hours, walking distance, stand minutes, cardio fitness, walking pace and running pace.

Time will tell what Apple’s next new health and fitness offerings will be, but there appears to be a lot on the horizon. 

The post Apple’s Fitness & Wellness Innovations Bode Well for 2024 appeared first on Athletech News.

Whoop has released its highly anticipated “Year in Review,” reflecting on its community’s achievements this past year and offering a data-driven look into the top health and fitness trends of 2023. With insights on sleep, strain, recovery, and stress, Whoop provided innovative technologies that empowered its members to unlock new insights. 

Athletech News breaks down some of the key findings from Whoop’s 2023 Year in Review:

Recovery Takes Many Forms

There were interesting highlights among Whoop users with alcohol consumption in 2023. There was a notable decrease in alcohol consumption among Whoop members but when they indulged, users consumed more, with an average of three drinks per sitting. Ice baths and red light therapy also emerged as recovery superstars, gaining popularity for their ability to alleviate muscle soreness and increase melatonin production, respectively.

Whoop’s data showcased that even minor behavioral changes had substantial impacts on overall well-being. Strong sleep performance, caffeine consumption, and consistent wake times were identified as beneficial recovery practices, while alcohol intake, fever, and excessive strain were observed to hinder recovery.

A surprising revelation linked sexual activity to recovery, with endorphin and oxytocin release contributing to stress reduction and improved recovery scores. The report even highlighted the countries and U.S. states where Whoop members engaged in the most sexual activity. The U.S., Australia, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands were the countries with the most sexual activity. Within the U.S., the states with the most sexual activity were Utah, Oklahoma, Alabama, Idaho and Nevada. 

Stress Management Is Top of Mind

Stress management also took a front seat in 2023, with Whoop members leveraging modalities like breathwork and meditation to counter the negative impact of stress on recovery. By monitoring key indicators such as resting heart rate (RHR) and heart rate variability (HRV), Whoop helps individuals understand and manage stress more effectively.

Sleep Quality Over Quantity

Whoop members didn’t necessarily sleep more in 2023, but they discovered ways to improve sleep quality. Over half of the members sought individualized recommendations from AI tool Whoop Coach to enhance their sleep quality. Exposure to morning sunlight and practicing daylight eating (consuming all meals during daylight hours) were linked to higher sleep consistency and improved sleep duration. When members got morning sunlight, their sleep consistency was higher and they averaged an additional 14 minutes of sleep per week. Whoop released fascinating data about bedtimes and wakeup times by country: the earliest bedtime was 10:46 pm in Australia, and the latest was 1:50 am in Qatar. The earliest wakeup was in South Africa at 6:40 am, and the latest was also in Qatar, at 9:38 am. 

More Notable Trends

The report delved into optimizing fitness beyond conventional gym activities. Proper nutrition, including a surge in vegetarian, vegan, and kosher diets among the top 1% of Strain earners, played a pivotal role. On average, those members were 45 years old. The use of creatine and increased protein consumption were also notable trends for supplement intake. 

Multipurpose activities gained popularity, with rucking and recreational sports such as pickleball, soccer, cricket, rugby, and paddle tennis becoming favorites among Whoop members. Stage performance saw a 19% increase, showcasing a rising trend among non-athletes using Whoop to enhance their well-being. One such performer is DJ Zedd, who uses Whoop for healthier habits. 

To access Whoop’s full 2023 Year in Review and personalized reports, click here

The post Whoop Reveals Global Wellness Trends of the Year appeared first on Athletech News.

Human performance company Whoop has appointed Michener Chandlee as chief financial officer and Ed Baker as chief growth officer following the acquisition of Baker’s startup, AnyQuestion.

Staying close to its home in the Boston market, Whoop acquired the neighboring platform which provides users with expert answers on topics ranging from sports, health and wellness and the arts and offers the ability to create, organize and share content.   

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

The acquisition follows the recent unveiling of Whoop Coach, an AI-powered coaching feature that uses Open AI’s GPT-4 technology for on-demand, personalized health and fitness coaching. The goal? Helping users better understand the relationship between their physical exertion, stress, sleep performance, general health and specific recovery needs. It’s this data-driven approach that sets Whoop apart from other fitness and health wearables on the market. 

In an exclusive interview with Athletech News in October, Whoop’s chief technology officer Jaime Waydo shared that the human performance company was integrating advanced performance science to offer more in-depth insights. 

Before Baker launched AnyQuestion in 2021, he led growth teams at Facebook and Uber and has served on Whoop’s board of directors for over four years. Chandlee has previously served Fanatics as CFO and spent almost 20 years at Nike in several senior roles, including chief risk officer and CFO of Nike’s Global Marketplace. 

Whoop CEO and founder Will Ahmed took to LinkedIn to announce the addition of the new executives, writing, “We’ve just finished our most successful month ever at Whoop, and we’re preparing for an exciting 2024 filled with growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Proud to have these two leaders on our team.”

In addition to Whoop acquiring AnyQuestion and pushing deeper into its AI investments, the Boston-based company opened a brand new global headquarters this year at One Kenmore Square, home to Fenway Park with eight floors and panoramic views of Boston landmarks such as the Citgo Sign and Charles River.

The post Whoop Buys AnyQuestion, Boosting AI Chat Capabilities appeared first on Athletech News.

Movano Health has begun taking orders for its Evie Ring, a unique smart ring with women’s health in mind.

While wearable tech has made numerous advancements in recent years, the Evie Ring, $269, is centered on women so they can track and analyze their health and fitness while recognizing that their biomarkers are different from those of men.

Unlike many other wearables, the Evie Ring touts zero additional subscription fees or monthly costs. Ring orders will ship in January 2024.

The latest product comes as Movano Health recently closed a $4.1 million public offering of 4,870,600 shares of its common stock.

The health tech company plans to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which Movano Health says may include funding product development and commercialization activities.

“We believe we’ve set the stage for the successful introduction of Evie into the market on November 20 and are excited to embark on this new phase of our journey as we shift from pre-revenue to a revenue-generating company,” said John Mastrototaro, CEO of Movano Health. 

The Evie Ring uses biometric sensors to track sleep stages and duration, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, skin temperature, steps, active minutes and calorie burn. Users can also log relevant information in the accompanying app, such as their mood and menstrual symptoms. In time, the Evie Ring can estimate periods and ovulation and assess illness, stress and alcohol consumption.

The smart ring users can also set daily and weekly activity and recovery goals across different areas, such as active minutes, steps, calorie burn, sleep and mood/symptom logging, with the app adjusting missed or exceeded goals to keep users motivated.

Evie Ring owners will also be able to review a single graphic that displays their progress towards each goal with animated “celebrations” as a feel-good way to reward effort.

Evie’s technology implements an AI tool to search for correlations across various data types and share any trends it discovers, such as improved mood after exceeding average steps or sleep disruptions due to different phases of a menstrual cycle. The insights allow ring wearers to better understand their bodies and make modifications to account for the findings.

A ‘Spot Check’ feature is also available so Evie Ring users can quickly determine their heart rate and blood oxygen levels at any time.

As for its hardware specs, the Evie Ring has over four days of battery life and can charge in an hour. A portable charging case comes with the ring, which holds 10+ ring charges, allowing users to charge Evie at any time.

The Evie Ring is available exclusively through its site in gold, rose gold, and silver finishes and sizes 5-12, with a complimentary sizing kit for those who don’t know their ring size. The ring is mindfully designed to account for daily fluctuations in ring size from hormonal changes, providing a comfortable fit.

The post Can Movano Gain Market Share With Evie Ring for Women’s Health? appeared first on Athletech News.

Oura has hired Apple executive Jason Oberfest, who served as an integral member of the Apple Health team since joining the company in 2018 from Mango Health.

Tom Hale, Oura’s CEO, told Bloomberg that Oberfest’s hiring will allow the company to “dive deeper into the healthcare world,” adding that his arrival “marks the start of a new chapter” for Oura. Oberfest will servce as Oura’s vice president of healthcare.

Currently, Oura has health sensors that can gather data like oxygen saturation, heart rate variability, menstrual cycles and sleep cycles. It recently announced new stress management features, providing stress monitoring and an AI-powered journal feature. Oberfest’s hiring is a win for the wearables company, which has stiff competition from products like the Apple Watch and Whoop.

Apple Watch has long had healthcare applications, with recent iterations of the Watch including an FDA-cleared electrocardiogram to help users monitor irregular heart rhythms and potential signs of atrial fibrillation. It can also detect critical health conditions and summons emergency services during accidents like falls.

Now, Oura is expected to similarly expand its capabilities and gain more credibility in the healthcare space.  

It has been a big year for Oura outside of the healthcare sector as well: the company recently hired former Headspace executive Sean Brecker as its new CFO, which came after the brand partnered with Headspace and Thrive Global this year to enhance users’ mental health and sleep management capabilities. The smart ring company also announced a large-scale retail partnership with Best Buy and the acquisition of Proxy, a digital identity startup. Oura also recently forged an agreement with a health e-commerce website to make its ring FSA and HSA eligible.

The post Oura Hires Apple Exec, Plans Deeper Healthcare Push appeared first on Athletech News.

Oura has unveiled a collaboration with Equinox, with the sides introducing a co-branded Rest & Recovery Kit.

The collaboration is part of the Equinox Circle program, designed to give club members exclusive access and privileges to a range of luxury brands spanning nutrition, fitness, wellness technology and more. Other brands that are part of the Circle collection include sneaker resale website StockX, supplement company Thorne HealthTech, meal delivery service Provenance Meals and air travel platform Blade.

The Rest & Recovery Kit is now available for purchase online for $545, catering to Equinox members and non-members alike. This comprehensive kit is curated to enhance the rest and recovery experience of individuals dedicated to their fitness journey. It includes the Gen 3 Oura ring, available in a choice of Horizon Silver or Horizon Stealth, accompanied by an exclusive Oura x Equinox branded ring cover. The kit also comprises a charger, a sleek leather pouch and a one-year Oura Membership.

One of the standout features of this Rest & Recovery Kit is the specially designed ring cover. Its primary function is to ensure the seamless connection of the Oura ring during physically demanding activities, such as weight training and strenuous workouts. This innovative accessory addresses a common concern among users who have found the Oura ring less compatible with barbell training. By shielding the ring from potential damage, scratches and wear during rigorous exercise, the cover serves as a simple solution to a prevalent problem.

Other activations from the Equinox Circle program include an exclusive StockX pop-up event, which is being held at Equinox’s Bond Street location in New York City through the end of October, and a dinner hosted October 26th at Torrisi in NYC where Equinox members can book a table via the Dorsia app.  

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Signos, a metabolic health platform that combines a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with an AI-powered app to provide real-time data and make health-centered recommendations, has secured $20 million in a Series B round.

The new funding, led by Cheyenne Ventures and Google Ventures, with support from Dexcom Ventures and Samsung Next, will be used to expand the team at Signos and go towards additional metabolic health research.  

While continuous glucose monitors were once primarily reserved for diabetics, advances in technology and rising interest in health and wellness have led to an increase in the use of metabolic monitoring devices by everyone from non-diabetics to wellness enthusiasts.

Wearing a device for high-tech health monitoring isn’t a novel concept, particularly given how consumers have embraced fitness and health wearables. CGMs have also come a long way, providing customers with a discreet means to monitor their metabolic health with better accuracy and real-time valuable data.

Despite increased concern and focus regarding health, Americans are nevertheless facing a metabolic crisis, with 96 million classified as prediabetic and, as Signos points out, 1 billion people worldwide are projected to develop diabetes by 2050.

Looking to change those starting stats, Signos says its CGM provides users with a solution to reverse prediabetes and assist with long-term weight loss. After deciding on one of three monthly plans, members log meals and workouts in the Signos app, allowing the AI platform to learn how a user’s metabolism responds to different foods and exercise. 

A Long-Term Solution

The platform then offers recommendations based on a user’s unique metabolic profile. The insights are rich — users discover what foods are best for them, when to eat and when to exercise to bring their glucose levels back within range. 

Essentially, the goal is to navigate glucose spikes and dips, which may cause people to eat sooner than necessary and ingest more calories than needed. 

Signos also integrates with smart watches, smart scales and Apple Health data to track metrics. 

“Sleep, stress, exercise and diet all influence how high and sustained one’s glucose spikes can be,” said Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, founder and CEO of Signos. “We often don’t realize that people make around 227 food-related decisions a day. By providing glucose visibility, tracking and AI-driven proactive suggestions, Signos can help you navigate those choices for better health.” 

Fouladgar-Mercer, who founded Signos in 2018, views the mission of the startup as somewhat personal, having been open about his own experience with weight management struggles. And although many consumers have started taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, he doesn’t see the injectables as the ultimate solution. As Fouladgar-Mercer told CNBC, the headline-making medicine may kick off weight loss, but consumers often struggle to keep off the weight after stopping the medication. 

Signos also expanded its weight management platform for those living with Type 2 diabetes earlier this year, offering a separate program that pairs CGM technology and its app to promote health and weight control.

The post Signos Raises $20M To Fight Metabolic Health Crisis With AI appeared first on Athletech News.

Whoop recently broke new ground in the wearables industry with the launch of Whoop Coach, an advanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) feature that uses GPT-4 technology to deliver highly personalized health and fitness coaching on demand.

Created in partnership with OpenAI, the lab behind ChatGPT, the AI tool leverages Whoop proprietary algorithms, a specially designed machine learning model and a member’s unique biometric data to help users better understand their Whoop scores.

Athletech News spoke with Jaime Waydo, the chief technology officer at Whoop, to better understand why the wearable health and fitness company launched Whoop Coach and learn more about how it plans to use AI moving forward.

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length

Athletech News: What prompted the launch of Whoop Coach? 

Jaime Waydo: I joined Whoop a little less than a year ago, and from the very beginning, we were talking about how to use more and more AI in the product. When OpenAI announced Chat GPT-3 at the end of November 2022, you could have a conversation with it: you could ask it questions, and it would respond. You could refine those answers. That had never really happened before. I sent a message on December 1st to the whole company, and said, “If you’re not playing with this, check it out.” At the time, we had just finalized the 2023 roadmap for Whoop. I typed into chat GPT-3, “What should the roadmap for Whoop be for the next year?” It came back with some really good ideas—things that we had already thought about. And that’s when I knew: there’s something really powerful here if we can tap into it.

So then the conversation became: what happens if you tie Whoop data into a large language model? What’s the conversation that can happen? And is that something that starts to feel like that 24-7 world-class performance coach, which is a lot of Whoop’s vision. In early January, the team started playing with large language models. Then we really started a few different explorations. One of them was figuring out the voice of the brand. A lot of work also went into tying it together with all of your data and making sure that no matter what question you ask, Whoop Coach has access to the right pieces of data to be able to give you not just an answer that’s obvious or that you could find on Google. We spent a lot of time figuring out what the interaction would be like. It was fun because this technology has never existed in the world before.

We launched it in September and the feedback so far has been hugely positive. The team’s off working on the next iteration of Whoop Coach that will be launching in a couple of weeks and we’ll continue to iterate on it and train it on more data and more models, and it’ll just get better and better and better every week.

ATN: What are the most popular searches that people start with on Whoop Coach? 

JW: There are a couple of emerging themes that I see. One is for new members on Whoop. That’s questions like “What is strain?” or “How do I get in the green tomorrow?” Then, there’s what I call the data enthusiasts. These are the people who want to know how this data compares to that data. So, “Do I sleep better in the summer versus the winter?” These are things that if you look in the app, it’s really hard to figure out. But now you can ask Coach and at your fingertips, you’ll get that answer. The third emerging theme that I see is around what I call the “time optimizer,” the person who just wants you to tell them what to do. “What’s the workout I should do today?” or “Give me a plan to run a marathon in two weeks.” 

ATN: Has the Whoop team thought about making the voice of Coach customizable? 

JW: Yes, there’s a set of technology that we’re working on right now where the coach learns the way that you respond best. Maybe as a woman you respond better with a particular voice in certain phases of your cycle or you need a specific voice during recovery days. The team is experimenting with all of that right now and working on that next layer of customization.

ATN: How do you see Coach changing the world of strength training for Whoop? 

JW: We’re excited about connecting Strength Trainer to Whoop Coach. Whoop Coach could recommend specific workouts depending on your strain goals for the day. One of the things we talk about a lot at Whoop is, How do we weave things together? So, when we build Coach, we don’t just build Coach. We talk about, How does Coach work with Strength Trainer? How does Coach work with sleep? How does Coach work with the journal? All needs to work as one. So we work very hard on making sure that as we’re designing Coach, we’re designing how to tie it into the journey.

ATN: How have you navigated potential regulatory challenges when building out Whoop Coach? 

JW: What we care about more than anything is privacy and security. We make sure that no one’s personal data leaves the four walls of Whoop. Even though we’re partnered with a large language model provider, we still make sure that all of your personal information only stays at Whoop and no one’s accessing that data. Open AI was a great partner for us; they don’t retain anything that we send over, they don’t train on any of the data, so that’s been a great foundation for us. 

ATN: What’s next for Whoop Coach? 

JW: One of the things that’s true of all AI technology is that you’re always training on more data so that it’s more capable. There are certain questions that if you asked Whoop Coach, it would probably say, “Our engineers are hard at work adding that data so that Coach has access to it.” For example, if you asked Coach right now, “What’s your battery state of charge?” it can’t tell you that, but soon it will be able to. There’s a lot more performance science that we are integrating, so it will give you deeper scientific insights. It will also weave into other parts of the app, which I think is very important. 

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