Imagine a world where technology enhances our well-being, fostering connections and guiding us toward a more harmonious existence through the latest advances in neuroscience and behavioral psychology. At Niremia Collective, our mission is to bring this vision to life by investing in startups that develop innovative mental health solutions, promote new ways of working, support healthy aging, and advance human-centric urban design.
Sleep is fundamental to our well-being, yet it remains elusive for billions around the world, often disrupted by external noises or internal stress. Ozlo Sleep is on a mission to change that.
When manufacturing giant Bose discontinued its wireless headphones for sleep, a group of engineers seized the opportunity to reimagine the product, leveraging its loyal fanbase. Armed with Bose’s intellectual property, the team developed Ozlo Sleepbuds, tiny Bluetooth earbuds equipped with all-night battery life and biometric sensing.
Unlike their predecessor, the revamped earbuds not only block sounds but also stream audio from any source. This feature is vital for those who rely on audio like podcasts or meditations to fall asleep, transforming a typical night's rest into a personalized retreat from noise. Soon, Sleepbuds will also be able to detect when you doze off and monitor your sleep quality.
While many biometric wellness products suffer from poor user retention, Ozlo bets on a ‘magic’ formula - a combination of great hardware, software, and a compelling “why” that drives behavior change, says Rockwell Shah, CEO of Ozlo.
“We're not presenting you with fancy dashboards of data that ultimately tell you that you're too fat, you're too slow, you don't eat well enough, you don't sleep well enough,” says Shah. "We're not just telling you about your problems. We're actually solving them for you."
The successful marketing and PR strategy behind Ozlo Sleepbuds has also been crucial in generating buzz even before the product reached the consumer. The marketing team has harnessed the power of community engagement through Kickstarter and Indiegogo pre-sale campaigns that garnered over $5 million from 20,000 bakers, helping build momentum and validate market demand.
And this is just the beginning. Ozlo Sleepbuds are participating in clinical trials to evaluate their efficacy in tinnitus therapy, a condition affecting 40 to 50 million people in the US. Traditionally, patients make multiple trips to audiologists for detailed assessments and tailored plans. Ozlo wants to democratize tinnitus treatment, offering a convenient at-home solution.
“The hardware is a delivery mechanism to your ear,” says Shah. “Once we have your ear at night, we can build interesting experiences that we care about.”
Ozlo’s Sleepbuds mark a significant shift in sleep technology—from devices that merely monitor sleep to those that enhance it proactively. As Ozlo grows, its focus on customer feedback and continuous improvement positions it to lead the $33 billion sleep tech industry, making better sleep a reality for millions—a mission we proudly support at Niremia Collective.
“Take a simple idea and take it seriously,” Shah quotes Charlie Munger, former vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. “Our simple idea is to help people sleep longer and with higher quality.”
